Fusion proteins forming trimers

ABSTRACT

The present invention refers to fusion proteins comprising a neck region and carbohydrate recognition domain of a collectin trimerization domain, a linker element and an effector polypeptide. Further the invention refers to a nucleic acid encoding the said fusion protein. The fusion proteins, the nucleic acid, and the cell are suitable as pharmaceutical composition or for therapeutic, diagnostic and/or research applications as described herein.

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/160,240, filed Jan. 21, 2014; which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/143,531, filed Sep. 6, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,664,366; which is a National Stage of International Application PCT/EP2009/050233, filed Jan. 9, 2009, published Jul. 15, 2010, under PCT Article 21(2) in English. The contents of the above-identified applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, TABLE OR COMPUTER PROGRAM

The Sequence Listing is concurrently submitted herewith with the specification as an ASCII formatted text file via EFS-Web with a file name of Sequence_Listing.txt with a creation date of Oct. 17, 2011, and a size of 160 kilobytes. The Sequence Listing filed via EFS-Web is part of the specification and is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference herein.

DESCRIPTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention refers to fusion proteins comprising a neck region and carbohydrate recognition domain of a collectin trimerization domain, a linker element and an effector polypeptide. Further the invention refers to a nucleic acid encoding the said fusion protein. The fusion proteins, the nucleic acid, and the cell are suitable as pharmaceutical composition or for therapeutic, diagnostic and/or research applications as described herein.

2. Background

Collectin proteins are known to form stable oligomers. Collectins are one of 18 group members building the protein lectin superfamily containing a structural protein fold called C-type lectin domain (Zelensky et al., FEBS Journal 2005, Vol 272, p 6179-6217). Lectins are proteins that bind to carbohydrates and C-type lectins require calcium for binding. As the C-type lectin domain is involved in carbohydrate binding, this domain is also called the carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD). Collectins belong to the innate immunity and among other functions neutralize pathogens by binding to the carbohydrates e.g. present on viruses and bacteria. In addition, collectins regulate immune functions such as activation of complement and influencing inflammation. The basic structural features of collectins are a collageneous and a lectin domain which are the name giving components of collectins. Some members have been shown to contain additional structural features, thus they contain the following components: i) an N-terminal collagen domain connected to ii) an alpha-helical segment that is also referred to as the neck-region and iii) the CRD at the C-terminus (FIG. 35). Collectins trimerize non-covalently via the “triplehelical collagen”, the “coiled coil neck” and CRD regions. In humans, the collectin group contains serum mannose binding protein(s), collectins of the liver, kidneys, placenta and lung. Four lung collectins are known including pulmonary surfactant protein-A and -D (SP-A and SP-D) which contain N-terminal cysteines that are involved in the disulfide-mediatet oligomerization of pre-formed trimers. For instance, SP-D forms tetramers of trimers and SP-A forms hexamers of trimers (Kishore et al, Mol. Immunol. 2006, Vol. 43, 1293-1315)

In the attempt to provide trimeric complexes of TNF superfamily cytokines recombinant fusion proteins comprising a TNF cytokine and a multimerization component have been suggested as one possible approach (e.g. WO 0149866). The disclosed constructs however exhibited trimerization domains with a large molecular weight and with inefficient trimerization properties.

Schneider et al. (J Exp Med 187 (1989), 1205-1213) describes that trimers of TNF cytokines are stabilized by N-terminally positioned stabilization motifs. In CD95L, the stabilization of the CD95L-receptor binding domain trimer is presumably caused by N-terminal amino acid domains which are located near the cytoplasmic membrane.

Shiraishi et al. (Biochem Biophys Res Commun 322 (2004), 197-202) describes that the receptor binding domain of CD95L may be stabilized by N-terminally positioned artificial α-helical coiled-coil (leucine zipper) motifs. It was found, however, that the orientation of the polypeptide chains to each other, e.g. parallel or antiparallel orientation, can hardly be predicted. Further, the optimal number of hepta-d-repeats in the coiled-coil zipper motif are difficult to determine. In addition, coiled-coil structures have the tendency to form macromolecular aggregates after alteration of pH and/or ionic strength.

Mc Alinden et al. (J of Biol Chem, 2002, 277(43):41274-41281) discloses the preparation of a fusion protein between a human type IIA procollagen amino acid sequence and a 14 amino acid sequence corresponding to the first two heptad repeats of the rat surfactant protein's (SP-D) neck domain.

WO 01/42298 discloses the preparation of a fusion protein between surfactant protein-D comprising the signal sequence, the collagen domain and the neck domain and CD40L. The disadvantage of those fusion proteins is that they lead to multimeric aggregates that are highly immunogenic and that they do not produce biochemically defined trimeric ligands.

To circumvent the named problems existing in the art could be achieved by using collectin trimerization domains as a tool for forming controlled trimers. In the art attempts for this have been performed. However only the coiled-coil neck region of collectin trimerization domains (CRD) have been used in such attempts. The coiled-coil like neck-region of SP-D itself can be used as trimerisation domain, either N- or C-terminal fused to protein domains as described in WO95/31540.

However if using solely the coiled-coil neck region the optimal number of hepta-d-repeats to achieve a stable trimer (the overall length) are difficult to determine. The presented part of the SP-D neck region does not form sufficiently stable trimeres itself and needs to be optimized with respect to its length or repetition grade to generate stabilised trimeric fusion proteins. In addition, coiled-coil structures tend to form macromolecular aggregates after alteration of pH and/or ionic strength. Accordingly a collectin neck-region α-helical bundle exists only as a trimeric molecule in conditions which mimic or aproximate physiological conditions. This implicates, that purification strategies employing pH-shifts and/or the alteration of the ionic strength might have a negative effect on the trimeric state of the neck solely based fusion proteins.

Also oligomerization of antibody fragments have been attempted by using collectin trimerization domains. E.g. fusion proteins comprising an anti-CD89-Fab or an anti-CD64-Fab fused to recombinant human fragment SP-D (neck+CRD-domain) have been investigated and found to be effective in targeting pathogens towards neutrophils. The fusion proteins presented had been generated by chemical crosslinking resulting in a mixture of protein products with the necessity of a complex purification regime to achieve the wanted protein species.

For human SP-D a mutant has been described in which amino acid phenylalanine 335 (corresponding to amino acid 355 of SEQ ID NO:21) has been mutated to alanine (SPD_F335A, Crouch et al., JBC 281: 18008-18014). This mutant showed very weak carbohydrate binding.

To allow for an efficient manufacturing process for Fab-SP-D based fusion proteins a process would be desirable that does not necessitate laborious purification procedures but allows for controlled production of defined products instead of crude mixtures.

The inventors found that the fusion proteins disclosed herein overcome the problems present in the art and allow for controlled generation of trimers of different effector polypeptdies such as cytokines of the TNF superfamily or also of antibody fragments or single chain antibodies.

It was an object of the present invention to provide fusion proteins forming trimers which allow efficient recombinant manufacture combined with good trimerization properties and improved pharmaceutical properties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a fusion protein comprising

-   -   (i) a collectin family trimerization domain comprising         -   a. a collectin family Carbohydrate Recognition Domain; and         -   b. a collectin family neck region;     -   (ii) a linker element; and     -   (iii) an effector polypeptide, wherein the effector polypeptide         is located N-terminally of the collectin family neck region.

The invention further relates to a nucleic acid molecule encoding a fusion protein as described herein and to a cell or a non-human organism transformed or transfected with a nucleic acid molecule as described herein.

The invention also relates to a fusion protein, a nucleic acid molecule, or a cell as described herein for use as a medicament.

The invention further related to the fusion protein, nucleic acid molecule, or cell as described herein for us in therapy and/or prophylaxis of neoplastic, inflammatory, infectious, degenerative, genetic, proliferative and vascular diseases, and of premalignant and malignant cancerous conditions, cancer and inborn errors.

The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical or diagnostic composition comprising as an active agent a fusion protein, a nucleic acid molecule, or a cell as described herein. The fusion protein, nucleic acid molecule, or cell as described herein may be used for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition in the prophylaxis and/or treatment of neoplastic, inflammatory, infectious, degenerative, genetic, proliferative and vascular diseases, and of premalignant and malignant cancerous conditions, cancer and inborn errors.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1: SEC of affinity purified CD95L-ASPD

FIG. 2: Silver gel of SEC fractions A1-A11 from affinity purified CD95L-ASPD

FIG. 3: Caspase activity on Jurkat cells induced by SEC fractions A1-A15 from affinity purified CD95L-ASPD

FIG. 4: Cytotoxicity of CD95L-ASPD on WM35, HT1080 and HeLa cells

FIG. 5: SEC of affinity purified LIGHT-ASPD

FIG. 6: Binding of HVEM-Fc to immobilized LIGHT-ASPD

FIG. 7: Western blot from HEK cells transiently transfected with TRAIL-constructs

FIG. 8: Caspase activity in Jurkat T-cells

FIG. 9: Size exclusion chromatography of TRAIL-ASPD

FIG. 10: Cytotoxic activity of TRAIL-ASPD against human cancer cells

FIG. 11: TRAIL-ASPD induced caspase activity in Jurkat

FIG. 12: Cytotoxicity assay with TRAIL-ASPD or TRAIL-DSPD on HT1080 cells

FIG. 13: Western blot from transiently transfected HEK cells transiently transfected with TRAIL-SPD-constructs or TRAIL-receptor selective SPD constructs.

FIG. 14: TRAIL-Receptor selective ligands (TRAILR1mut and TRAILR2mut) immobilized on Streptactin plates, are differentially detected by TRAIL-Receptor 1-Fc or TRAIL-Receptor 2-Fc

FIG. 15: Binding of TRAIL-Receptors to Receptor-selective “mutein” ligands

FIG. 16: Size exclusion chromatography of affinity purified TRAILR1 mut-ASPD

FIG. 17: Silver stained SDS-PAGE of SEC fractions A1-A14 from affinity purified TRAILR1 mut-ASPD

FIG. 18: Caspase activity of SEC fractions A1-A14 from affinity purified TRAILR1 mut-ASPD on Jurkat cells

FIG. 19: Size exclusion chromatography of affinity purified TRAILR2mut-ASPD

FIG. 20: Silver stained SDS-PAGE of SEC fractions A1-A14 from affinity purified TRAILR2mut-ASPD

FIG. 21: Jurkat Kill Assay Jurkat of SEC fractions A1-A14 from affinity purified TRAILR2mut-ASPD

FIG. 22: Cytotoxic activity of TRAIL-ASPD, TRAILR1 mut-ASPD and TRAILR2mut-ASPD on human cancer cells.

FIG. 23: Receptor selective TRAIL-SPD proteins are highly souble

FIG. 24: SEC of affinity purified TRAIL-ASPD_F335A

FIG. 25: Silver stained SDS-PAGE of SEC fractions A1-A13

FIG. 26: Cytotoxic effect of TRAIL-ASPD_F335A on human cancer cells

FIG. 27: SEC of affinity purified TRAIL-ASPD_F335D

FIG. 28: Silver stained SDS-PAGE of SEC from affinity purified TRAIL-ASPD_F335D

FIG. 29: Cytotoxic effect TRAIL-SPD_F335D on human cancer cells

FIG. 30: Binding of TRAIL-ASPD fusion protein to carbohydrates

FIG. 31: Pharmacokinetics of TRAIL-ASPD (A) or TRAIL-ASPD_F335 D (B) Fusion Proteins

FIG. 32: Caspase activity in primary human hepatocytes

FIG. 33: Western Blot of supernatants from HEK293 cells transiently transfected with trimerized APRIL constructs

FIG. 34: TACI-Fc binds to APRIL-ASPD

FIG. 35: Schematic drawing of the domain organization of the collectin SP-D. The collagen and neck regions trimerize collectins and the N-terminus further oligomerizes trimers into tetramers or hexamers of trimers. The CRD mediates binding to carbohydrates and is also involved in trimerization.

FIG. 36: Schematic picture representing the general structure of TNF-SFproteins. “▪ ▪▪” designates cell membrane; N-terminus located within the cell, 1. anti-parallel β-fold of receptor-binding domain (RBD), 2. interface of RBD and cell membrane, 3. protease cleavage site.

FIG. 37: Schematic picture representing the structure of the native TNF-SF trimer. Cylindric structures (1) represent RBDs, N-termini (2) forming the stalk and connecting the RBD with the cell membrane.

FIG. 38: Schematic picture representing the modification introduced to minimize the TNF-SF-RBD. The N-terminal stalk is deleted. 1. anti-parallel β-fold of receptor-binding domain (RBD), 2. interface of RBD and cell membrane

FIG. 39: Silver gel of affinity purified Sp-sc006-ASPD-St.

FIG. 40: Size exclusion chromatography of affinity purified Sp-sc006-ASPD-St.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The fusion protein as disclosed herein may be a monomeric protein or a multimeric protein. Preferably, the fusion protein is present as a trimeric complex consisting of three monomeric units which may be identical or different. Preferably, a trimeric complex consists of three identical fusion proteins. In a further preferred embodiment, the complex is formed by covalent linkage between three of the fusion proteins described herein, e.g., a covalent linkage of disulfide bridges between cysteines of the collectin trimerization domain as described herein.

The trimeric complex as such shows biological activity. It was found, however, that oligomers of the trimeric complex, e.g. defined complexes wherein the basic trimeric structure is present 2, 3 or 4 times, also have biological activity. Thus, also preferred is an oligomer of the trimeric complex.

The fusion protein comprises the following elements:

-   -   (i) a collectin family trimerization domain comprising         -   a. a collectin family Carbohydrate Recognition Domain; and         -   b. a collectin family neck region;]     -   (ii) a linker element; and     -   (iii) an effector polypeptide, wherein the effector polypeptide         is located N-terminally of the collectin family neck region.

A collectin trimerization domain as used herein is generally derived from the C-terminal part of Collectin polypeptides. The trimerization domain as used herein comprises a coiled-coil region (in certain embodiments referred to as neck region) and a Carbohydrate Recognition Domain (referred to herein also as CRD).

The collectin trimerization domain may comprise any collectin family member. Such members and their structures are summarized in, e.g., Hakansson et al. (Protein Science, 2000, 9:1607-1617) and may comprise surfactant protein-D (acc. No.: P35247; SEQ ID NO:21), surfactant protein-A 1 (acc. No.: Q8IWL2; SEQ ID NO:59), surfactant protein-A 2 (acc. No.: Q8IWL1; SEQ ID NO:60), mannan-binding-protein-C (accession No.: P11226; SEQ ID NO:61), collectin liver 1 (acc. No.: Q9Y6Z7; SEQ ID NO:62), collectin placenta 1 (acc. No.: Q5KU26; SEQ ID NO:63), or collectin-11 (acc. No.: Q9BWP8; SEQ ID NO:22). As well the coiled-coil region (neck region) as the CRD may be selected from the above mentioned collectins. It must be understood that coiled-coil (neck region) and CRD may but need not be from the same collectin. The collectin trimerization domain as described herein may be from a different species than the cytokine of the TNF superfamily or a receptor binding domain thereof as described herein. Alternatively, the collectin trimerization domain as described herein may be from the same species than the cytokine of the TNF superfamily or a receptor binding domain thereof described herein. In a preferred embodiment, the collectin domain as described herein is from human and the cytokine of the TNF superfamily or a receptor binding domain thereof as described herein is from human.

The CRD may comprise a mutant, e.g., a mutant of surfactant protein-D or collectin-11, which does not bind to mannose. Such mutants may be identified by methods known to the skilled person, e.g., the methods disclosed in Crouch et al. (J Biol Chem, 2006, 281(26):18008-18014). The collectin trimerization domain (ii) may further comprise a mutant which comprise at least one amino acid substitution as is described herein and may be generated as described herein. Such amino acid substitutions may modify the binding of the collectin trimerization domain to its ligand mannose and lead to an alteration of the clearance rate of a fusion protein as described herein when used in therapy and/or as pharmaceutical composition. The modification may result in a decreased or no binding to mannose and a low clearance rate. Such modifications may be achieved by, e.g., amino acid substitution that affect amino acid position F355 of human surfactant protein-D of SEQ ID NO:21, particularly by the amino acid substitutions F355A, F355S, F355T, F355E, F355D, F355K, or F355R. Especially preferred is the substitution F355D. Alternatively, the modification may result in an increased binding to mannose and a high clearance rate. Such modifications may be achieved by, e.g., amino acid substitution that affect amino acid position F355 of human surfactant protein-D of SEQ ID NO:21, particularly by the amino acid substitutions F355L, F355Y, or F355W.

A neck region as used herein may comprise a coiled-coil structure. The neck may be located adjacent to the CRD of collectins or may in certain cases be located remote from the CRD.

In a preferred embodiment, the collectin trimerization domain comprises the neck and carbohydrate binding domain (CRD) domain of the surfactant protein-D, particularly amino acids 217-375, 218-375, 219-375, 220-375, 221-375, 222-375, 223-375, 224-375, 225-375 from human surfactant protein-D of SEQ ID NO:21. In another preferred embodiment, the collectin trimerization domain comprises the neck domain of the surfactant protein-D, particularly amino acids 217-257, 218-257, 219-257, 220-257, 221-257, 222-257, 223-257, 224-257, or 225-257 from human surfactant protein-D of SEQ ID NO:21. In another preferred embodiment, the collectin trimerization domain comprises the neck and carbohydrate binding domain (CRD) domain of collectin-11, particularly amino acids 110-271, 116-271, or 121-271 of human collectin-11 of SEQ ID NO:22. In another preferred embodiment, the collectin trimerization domain comprises the neck domain of collectin-11, particularly amino acids 110-147, 110-148, 110-149, 110-150, 110-151, 116-147, 116-148, 116-149, 116-150, 116-151, 121-147, 121-148, 121-149, 121-150, or 121-151 of human collectin-11 of SEQ ID NO:22.

A flexible linker element is located between the collectin trimerization domain as described herein and the effector polypeptide polypeptide. The flexible linker element preferably has a length of 25 amino acids or less. In certain embodiments the linker element has a length of 3-30 amino acids, particularly a length of 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 or 30 amino acids. In one embodiment the length of the linker element is 5-25 amino acids, 8-20 amino acids or 10-20 amino acids. More preferably, the length of the linker is 9-15 amino acids. Generally the linker element used herein may be composed of any known amino acids or of artificial amino acid derivatives. In certain embodiments the linker elements are built of small and hydrophilic non-charged amino acids. Generally the linker element according to the invention may comprise amino acids selected from G, S, A and T. The linker element is preferably a glycine/serine linker, i.e., a peptide linker substantially consisting of the amino acids glycine and serine. In an especially preferred embodiment, the linker has the amino acid sequence (GSS)_(a)(SSG)_(b)(GSG)_(c), SEQ ID NO:33, wherein a, b, c is each 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6. It is clear to the skilled person that in cases in which the cytokine of the TNF superfamily or a receptor binding domain thereof already terminates with a G, e.g. human TRAIL (SEQ ID NO:10) such a G may form the first G of the linker in the linker sequence (GSS)_(a)(SSG)_(b)(GSG)_(c), SEQ ID NO:33. It must be understood that in principle the building blocks for the liker elements may be composed of 1, 2, 3, 4 or more amino acids so that the linkers useful herein are not restricted to linkers made of building blocks of 3 elements. Generally a linker element as used herein may be composed of building blocks or also from a sequence of amino acids.

The effector polypeptide as used herein is an extracellular polypeptide or a fragment of a protein comprising extracellular portions of such protein. Generally proteins or fragments thereof may be used as effector polypeptides. Effector polypeptides may be polypeptides of any origin and may be selected from e.g. mammalian polypeptides, vertebrate polypeptides, insect polypeptides, bacterial polypeptides, plant polypeptides, yeast polypeptides. Mammalian polypeptides may comprise mouse, rat, human, horse, goat, dog, rabbit, cat, sheep, hamster, donkey, monkey and other polypepeptides. In certain embodiments the polypeptides are human polypeptides or humanized polypeptides. Such extracelluar proteins or extracellular portions of proteins may for example be selected from cell surface proteins, secreted extracellular proteins, extracellular regions of transmembrane proteins etc. In certain embodiments of the invention the effector polypeptide is selected from a group consisting of a cytokine of the TNF superfamily, a receptor binding domain thereof, a receptor for a cytokine and/or an antibody or fragments thereof.

In one embodiment the effector polypeptide is a cytokine of the TNF superfamily or a receptor binding domain thereof. Preferably, the cytokine is a mammalian, particularly human cytokine or a receptor binding domain thereof including allelic variants and/or derivatives thereof. Further, it is preferred that the TNF cytokine is a receptor binding domain thereof capable of binding to the corresponding cytokine receptor and preferably capable of receptor activation, whereby apoptotic or proliferative activity may be caused. The cytokine may e.g. be selected from TNF superfamily members, e.g. human TNFSF-1 to -18 as indicated in Table 1, preferably from LTA (SEQ ID NO:1), TNFα (SEQ ID NO:2), LTB (SEQ ID NO:3), OX40L (SEQ ID NO:4), CD40L (SEQ ID NO:5), CD95L (SEQ ID NO:6), CD27L (SEQ ID NO:7), CD30L (SEQ ID NO:8), CD137L (SEQ ID NO:9), TRAIL (SEQ ID NO:10), RANKL (SEQ ID NO:11), TWEAK (SEQ ID NO:12), APRIL 1 (SEQ ID NO:13), APRIL 2 (SEQ ID NO:14), BAFF (SEQ ID NO:15), LIGHT (SEQ ID NO:16), TL1A (SEQ ID NO:17), GITRL (SEQ ID NO:18), EDA-A1 (SEQ ID NO:19), EDA-A2 (SEQ ID NO:20), or a receptor binding domain thereof. Preferred receptor binding domains of the respective proteins are indicated in Table 1 (NH₂-aa to COOH-aa) and comprise, e.g., comprises amino acids 59-205 or 60-205 of LTA (SEQ ID NO:1), 86-233 of TNFα (SEQ ID NO:2), 82-244 or 86-244 of LTB (SEQ ID NO:3), 52-183 or 55-183 of OX40L (SEQ ID NO:4), 112-261 or 117-261 of CD40L (SEQ ID NO:5), 51-193 or 56-193 of CD27L (SEQ ID NO:7), 97-234, 98-234 or 102-234 of CD30L (SEQ ID NO:8), 86-254 of CD137L (SEQ ID NO:9), 161-317 of RANKL (SEQ ID NO:11), 103-249, 104-249 or 105-249 of TWEAK (SEQ ID NO:12), 112-247 or 113-247 of APRIL 1 (SEQ ID NO:13), 112-250 or 113-250 of APRIL 2 (SEQ ID NO:14), 140-285 of BAFF (SEQ ID NO:15), 91-240 of LIGHT (SEQ ID NO:16), 91-251 or 93-251 of TL1A (SEQ ID NO:17), 52-177 of GITRL (SEQ ID NO:18), 245-391 of EDA-A1 (SEQ ID NO:19), 245-389 of EDA-A2 (SEQ ID NO:20).

In one embodiment the effector polypeptide may be IL4R-alpha (acc. No.: P24394, SEQ ID NO:37)

More preferably, the cytokine of the TNF superfamily or a receptor binding domain thereof is selected from CD95L or TRAIL or a receptor binding domain thereof. In an especially preferred embodiment, the cytokine of the TNF superfamily or a receptor binding domain thereof comprises the extracellular portion of a TNF cytokine including the receptor binding domain without membrane located domains.

In a preferred embodiment, the cytokine of the TNF superfamily or a receptor binding domain thereof of the fusion protein is selected from human CD95L (SEQ ID NO:6), particularly amino acids 142-281 or 144-281 of human CD95L.

In a further preferred embodiment, the cytokine of the TNF superfamily or a receptor binding domain thereof of the fusion protein is human TRAIL (SEQ ID NO:10), particularly amino acids 95-281, 116-281, 117-281, 118-281, 119-281 or 120-281 of human TRAIL. In another preferred embodiment human TRAIL comprise any amino acid from 95-120 as initial amino acid-amino acid 281 of SEQ ID NO:10.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the cytokine of the TNF superfamily or a receptor binding domain thereof of the fusion protein as described herein comprises a mutant of the cytokine of the TNF superfamily or a receptor binding domain thereof which binds and/or activates TRAIL-receptor 1 (TRAILR1) and/or TRAIL-receptor 2 (TRAILR2). The binding and/or activity of the mutant may be, e.g., determined by the assays as disclosed herein, e.g., in the Examples or by the assays disclosed in van der Sloot et al. (PNAS, 2006, 103:8634-8639), Kelley et al. (J. Biol. Chem., 2005, 280:2205-2215), or MacFarlane et al. (Cancer Res., 2005, 65: 11265-11270).

The mutant may be generated by any technique and is known by the skilled person, e.g., the techniques disclosed in an der Sloot et al. (PNAS, 2006, 103:8634-8639), Kelley et al. (J. Biol. Chem., 2005, 280:2205-2215), or MacFarlane et al. (Cancer Res., 2005, 65: 11265-11270) any may comprise any type of structural mutations, e.g., substitution, deletion, duplication and/or insertion of an amino acid. A preferred embodiment is the generation of substitutions. The substitution may affect at least one amino acid of the cytokine of the TNF superfamily or a receptor binding domain thereof as described herein. In a preferred embodiment, the substitution may affect at least one of the amino acids of TRAIL, e.g., human TRAIL (e.g., SEQ ID NO:10). Preferred substitutions in this regard affect at least one of the following amino acids of human TRAIL of SEQ ID NO:10: R130, G160, Y189, R191, Q193, E195, N199, K201, Y213, T214, S215, H264, I266, D267, D269. Preferred amino acid substitutions of human TRAIL of SEQ ID NO:10 are at least one of the following substitutions: R130E, 0160M, Y189A, Y189Q, R191K, Q193S, Q193R, E195R, N199V, N199R, K201R, Y213W, T214R, S215D, H264R, I266L, D267Q, D269H, D269R, or D269K.

The amino acid substitution(s) may affect the binding and/or activity of TRAIL, e.g., human TRAIL, to or on either the TRAILR1 or the TRAILR2. Alternatively, the amino acid substitution(s) may affect the binding and/or activity of TRAIL, e.g., human TRAIL, to or on both, the TRAILR1 and the TRAILR2. The binding and/or activity of the TRAILR1 and/or TRAILR2 may be affected positively, i.e., stronger, more selective or specific binding and/or more activation of the receptor. Alternatively, the binding and/or activity of the TRAILR1 and/or TRAILR2 may be affected negatively, i.e., weaker, less selective or specific binding and/or less or no activation of the receptor.

Examples of mutants of TRAIL with amino acid substitution(s) that affect binding and/or activity of both TRAILR1 and TRAILR2 may be found, e.g., in Table 1 of MacFarlane et al. (cf. above) and may comprise human TRAIL mutants with the following two amino acid substitutions of SEQ ID NO:10 Y213W and S215D or the following single amino acid substitution Y189A.

Examples of mutants of TRAIL with amino acid substitution(s) that affect binding and/or activity of TRAILR1 may be found, e.g., in Table 1 of MacFarlane et al. (cf. above) and may comprise human TRAIL mutants with the following four amino acid substitutions of SEQ ID NO:10 N199V, K201R, Y213W and S215D or the following five amino acid substitutions Q193S, N199V, K201R, Y213W and S215D or in Table 2 of Kelley et al. (cf. above) and may comprise human TRAIL mutants with the following six amino acid substitutions Y213W, S215D, Y189A, Q193S, N199V, and K201R or Y213W, S215D, Y189A, Q193S, N199R, and K201R.

Examples of mutants of TRAIL with amino acid substitution(s) that affect binding and/or activity of TRAILR2 may be found, e.g., in Table 1 of MacFarlane et al. (cf. above) or in Table 2 of Kelley et al. (cf. above) and may comprise human TRAIL mutants with the following six amino acid substitutions of SEQ ID NO:10: Y189Q, R191K, Q193R, H264R, I266L, and D267Q, or in Table 2 of van der Sloot et al. (cf. above), and may comprise human TRAIL mutants with the following single amino acid substitution D269H, the following two amino acid substitutions D269H and E195R or D269H and T214R.

In a further preferred embodiment, the cytokine portion of the fusion protein is derived from human LIGHT (SEQ ID NO:16), particularly amino acids 91-240 of SEQ ID NO:16. LIGHT is a member of TNF superfamily, and its receptors have been identified as lymphotoxin-beta receptor (LTbetaR) and the herpesvirus entry mediator (HVEM)/ATAR/TR2, both of which lack the cytoplasmic sequence termed the ‘death domain’. Since LIGHT engages LTbetaR and HVEM as the cellular receptors, it is expected to have biological functions similar to those of LTalpha and LTbeta. As previous studies have shown, LIGHT induces cell death in HT-29 cells as does LTalpha (Harrop, J. Aetal. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 27548-27556; Zhai, Y., et al. (1998) J. Clin. Invest. 102, 1142-1151 and Rooney, I. A. et al. (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275, 14307-14315), it causes growth arrest in RD cells following the developmental changes to smooth muscles cells, and it stimulates secretion of IL-8 and RANTES from the cells (Hikichi, Y., et al. (2001) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 289, 670-677). It has also been reported that LIGHT is one of the CD28-independent co-stimulatory molecules in T cells (Tamada, K., et al. (2000) J. Immunol. 164, 4105-4110).

In one embodiment the cytokine of the TNF superfamily is RANK-L. Human RANK Ligand (RANK-L) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor superfamily of proteins known to be key regulators of the immune system, bone development and homeostasis (Anderson, et al., Nature 390: 175-179, 1997). This ligand is also designated Tumor Necrosis Factor Related Activation-Induced Cytokine (TRANCE) (Wong, et al., J. Exp. Med. 186: 2075, 1997), Osteoprotegerin Ligand (OPGL) (Lacey, et al., Cell 93: 165, 1998), and Osteoclast Differentiation Factor (ODF) (Yasuda, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 95: 3597, 1998). Members of the tumor necrosis family mediate diverse and sometimes opposite biological responses such as proliferation, apoptosis, cell survival, and differentiation.

In a further embodiment the cytokine of the TNF superfamily is TWEAK. TWEAK (TNFLSF member 12) was recently found to be a direct and strong inducer of angiogenesis (formation and growth of blood vessels) as it was observed that picomolar concentrations of TWEAK promote proliferation of normal endothelial cells and that TWEAK induces angiogenesis in an in vivo rat cornea model (Lynch et al., 1999, The Journal of Biological Chemistry, 274(13) pp. 8455-8459).

In a still further preferred embodiment, the cytokine portion of the fusion protein is derived from human APRIL (SEQ ID NO:13 or 14), particularly amino acids 112-247 or 113-247 of SEQ ID NO:13, or 112-250 or 113-250 of SEQ ID NO:14. APRIL (TNFLS member 13) is a trimeric cytokine that binds to the receptor TNFRSF13B and to TNFRSF17. It has recently been shown that the addition of recombinant APRIL to various tumor cells stimulates their proliferation and hence APRIL may be implicated in the regulation of tumor cell growth (Hahne M., et al, 1998; J. Exp. Med. 188:1185-1190). It has also been suggested that APRIL may be involved in monocyte/macrophage-mediated immunological processes.

The TNF superfamily cytokines used as effector polypeptides herein may in certain embodiments be truncated at the N-terminal side. Truncation as used in this respect shall refer to omission of all amino acids of the stalk region, or to omission of part of the amino acids of the stalk region.

Proteins of the TNF superfamiliy are anchored to the membrane via an N-terminal proportion of 15-30 amino acids, the so-called stalk-region. The stalk-region contributes to trimerization and provides for a certain distance to the cell membrane. However, the stalk-region does not form part of the receptor binding domain (RBD). Importantly, the RBD is characterized by a particular localization of its N- and C-terminal amino acids. Said amino acids are immediately adjacent and are located central to the axes of the trimers. The first N-terminal amino acids of the RBD form an anti-parallel beta-strand with the C-terminal amino acids of the RBD (FIGS. 36 and 38).

Thus, the anti-parallel beta-strand of the RBD forms an interface with the cell membrane, which is connected to and anchored within the cell membrane via the amino acids of the stalk-region. In certain embodiments of the invention the stalk region of the TNF superfamily cytokine used as an effector polypeptide is omitted. This has the particular advantage that steric hindrance between the stalk region and the linker-collectin can be avoided. Otherwise, the linker connecting the C-terminus of one of the TNF-SF-RBD domain with the N-terminus of the collectin domain would be sterically hindered by the stalk, which might result in instability and/or formation of aggregates.

In certain embodiments truncating the TNF superfamily cytokine by omitting the stalk region of the N-terminus is a prerequisite for C-terminal positioning of the collectin trimerization domain. In certain embodiments it is highly preferred that the collectin based trimeric fusion protein comprises a receptor binding domain of the TNF-SF cytokine lacking any amino acids from the stalk-region.

The ability of the collectin based trimeric TNF-SF fusion polypeptide, wherein the effector TNF superfamily cytokine is positioned N-terminally of the collectin trimerization domain, of forming an ordered trimeric structure comprising at least one functional binding site for the respective cytokine receptor, is in certain embodiments of the invention crucially associated with total or partial omission of the stalk region of the TNF superfamily cytokine.

In the fusion protein of the invention as described herein, the collectin trimerization domain is located C-terminally of the effector polypeptide. Thus, the fusion protein may comprise a effector polypeptide as described herein and a collectin trimerization domain that comprises a collectin family neck domain and a collectin family CRD domain, e.g., the neck domain and the CRD and/or neck domain of surfactant protein-D or the neck domain and the CRD and/or neck domain of collectin-11 both as described herein wherein those domains are located C-terminally of the effector polypeptide. In this embodiment, it is preferred that the collectin trimerization domain comprises the neck domain and the CRD.

The fusion proteins disclosed herein comprise the effector polypeptide N-terminally to the collectin trimerization domain. The inventors found that controlled formation of trimers may only be effective if this orientation is obeyed. Only constructs having the effector polypeptide N-terminally of the collectin trimerization domain do lead to controlled stable trimers and are minimally prone to form larger aggregates during handling and purification. From the published crystal structure (Shrive, A. K., et al., 2003, J. Mol. Biol. 331: 509-523) of the neck-CRD part of recombinant human SP-D, the relative position of the N- and C-terminal amino acid of each monomer can be derived. Whereas the amino-terminal amino-acids (A205[A225]*) of the trimers are solvent exposed and located in direct proximity at the beginning of the parallel coiled-coil structure, the side-chain of the C-terminal (F355[F375]*) amino-acids of the trimers are buried within the CRD-domain and positioned in a triangular distant symmetry to each other. The COOH groups of F355[F375]* are forming an isosceles triangle with approx. 23 angstrom side length. Importantly, the protein-core of the neck-CRD trimers is within this triangle, thus only the space radially to the neck-CRD core is accessible for fusion partners. *The numbers given in [ ] refer to Seq ID 21.

It can be concluded, that by their relative position to each other, the N- and the C-terminal amino acids in the neck-CRD part of the SP-D trimere are not equivalent with respect to their use as joining point for the construction of fusion proteins.

As a disadvantage in the case of the TNF-SF proteins, a C-terminal fusion (this means, fusing the TNF-SF-fragment towards the C-terminal amino-acid of the neck-CRD; F355[F375]*) comprising the extracellular region with the stalk region would result in an large molecular aggregate due to the trimerisation force of the TNF-SF fragment itself.

Therefore, fusing an TNF-SF-RBD domain with its endogenous stalk C-terminal to the neck-CRD construct would not result in an defined trimeric assembly. Accordingly in certain embodiments of the invention truncated polypeptides of the TNF-SF-RBD (TNF superfamily receptor binding domain) lacking the stalk region are used as effector polypeptides.

In a preferred embodiment, the fusion protein comprises TRAIL, particularly human TRAIL or a receptor binding domain thereof or a mutant of TRAIL as described herein, preferably 95-281, 116-281, 117-281, 118-281, 119-281 or 120-281 of human TRAIL (SEQ ID NO:10) and a collectin trimerization domain or mutant thereof as described herein, particularly the CRD and neck domain of surfactant protein-D, preferably amino acids 217-375, 218-375, 219-375, 220-375, 221-375, 222-375, 223-375, 224-375, 225-375 of human surfactant protein-D of SEQ ID NO:21 wherein the collectin trimerization domain is located C-terminally of TRAIL or mutant TRAIL as described herein. Preferred fusion proteins in this regard are SEQ ID Nos:26 or 27. Alternatively, the above fusion protein may additionally comprise a linker as described herein, e.g., a linker with the amino acid sequence (GSS)a(SSG)b(GSG)c, SEQ ID NO: 33, wherein a, b, c is each 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6. Preferably, the linker has a length of 9-15 amino acids.

In a preferred embodiment, the fusion protein comprises TRAIL, particularly human TRAIL or a receptor binding domain thereof or a mutant of TRAIL as described herein, preferably 95-281, 116-281, 117-281, 118-281, 119-281 or 120-281 of human TRAIL (SEQ ID NO:10) and a collectin trimerization domain or mutant thereof as described herein, particularly the neck domain of surfactant protein-D, preferably amino acids 217-257, 218-257, 219-257, 220-257, 221-257, 222-257, 223-257, 224-257, or 225-257 of human surfactant protein-D of SEQ ID NO:21 wherein the collectin trimerization domain is located C-terminally of TRAIL or mutant TRAIL as described herein. A preferred fusion protein in this regard is SEQ ID NO:28. Alternatively, the above fusion protein may additionally comprise a linker as described herein, e.g., a linker with the amino acid sequence (GSS)a(SSG)b(GSG)c, SEQ ID NO: 33, wherein a, b, c is each 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6.

In another preferred embodiment, the fusion protein comprises TRAIL, particularly human TRAIL or a receptor binding domain thereof or a mutant of TRAIL as described herein, preferably 95-281, 116-281, 117-281, 118-281, 119-281 or 120-281 of human TRAIL (SEQ ID NO:10) and a collectin trimerization domain or mutant thereof as described herein, particularly the CRD and neck domain of collectin-11, preferably amino acids 110-271, 116-271, or 121-271 of human collectin-11 of SEQ ID NO:22 wherein the collectin trimerization domain is located C-terminally of TRAIL or mutant TRAIL as described herein. Preferred fusion proteins in this regard are SEQ ID Nos:29 and 30. Alternatively, the above fusion protein may additionally comprise a linker as described herein, e.g., a linker with the amino acid sequence (GSS)a(SSG)b(GSG)c, SEQ ID NO: 33, wherein a, b, c is each 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6. Preferably, the linker has a length of 9-15 amino acids.

In another preferred embodiment, the fusion protein comprises TRAIL, particularly human TRAIL or a receptor binding domain thereof or a mutant of TRAIL as described herein, preferably 95-281, 116-281, 117-281, 118-281, 119-281 or 120-281 of human TRAIL (SEQ ID NO:10) and a collectin trimerization domain or mutant thereof as described herein, particularly the neck domain of collectin-11, preferably amino acids 110-147, 110-148, 110-149, 110-150, 110-151, 116-147, 116-148, 116-149, 116-150, 116-151, 121-147, 121-148, 121-149, 121-150, or 121-151 of human collectin-11 of SEQ ID NO:22 wherein the collectin trimerization domain is located C-terminally of TRAIL or mutant TRAIL as described herein. A preferred fusion protein in this regard is SEQ ID NO:31. Alternatively, the above fusion protein may additionally comprise a linker as described herein, e.g., a linker with the amino acid sequence (GSS)a(SSG)b(GSG)c, SEQ ID NO: 33, wherein a, b, c is each 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6.

In another preferred embodiment, the fusion protein comprises CD95L, particularly human CD95L, or a receptor binding domain thereof as described herein, e.g. amino acids 21-160 of SEQ ID NO:40, and a collectin trimerization domain comprising the neck domain and the CRD of human SP-D, e.g. amino acids 172-209 and 210-327 of SEQ ID NO:40, respectively, or a mutant thereof as described herein. The fusion protein may comprise a linker, e.g. a flexible linker, more preferably a glycine/serine linker as described herein having a length of preferably 9-15 amino acids. A preferred fusion protein in this regard comprises SEQ ID NO:40, particularly amino acids 21-327 of SEQ ID NO:40.

In another preferred embodiment, the fusion protein comprises LIGHT, particularly human LIGHT or a receptor binding domain thereof as described herein, preferably amino acids 21-170 of SEQ ID NO:41, and a collectin trimerization domain comprising the neck domain and the CRD of human SP-D, e.g. amino acids 182-219, and 220-337 of SEQ ID NO:41, respectively, or a mutant thereof as described herein. The cytokine and the collectin domain are connected by a linker, e.g. a glycine/serine linker as described herein, having a length of preferably 9-15 amino acids. A preferred fusion protein in this regard comprises SEQ ID NO:41, particularly amino acids 21-327 of SEQ ID NO:41.

In another preferred embodiment, the fusion protein comprises TRAIL, particularly human TRAIL or a receptor binding domain thereof or mutant of TRAIL as described herein, e.g. amino acids 21-181 of SEQ ID NO:43 (wild type TRAIL), amino acids 21-181 of SEQ ID NO:47 (TRAILR1mut) or amino acids 21-181 of SEQ ID NO:48 (TRAILR2mut). Further, the fusion protein comprises a collectin trimerization domain selected from the neck domain and optionally the CRD of human SP-D, e.g. amino acids 193-230, and 231-384 of SEQ ID NO:43, respectively, or a mutant thereof as described herein, e.g. mutants as shown in SEQ ID NO:49 or 50. The fusion polypeptide comprises both the neck region and the CRD of human SP-D. The cytokine and collectin domain are connected by a linker, e.g. a glycine/serine linker as described herein. Preferably, the linker has a length of 9-15 amino acids. Preferred fusion proteins in this regard comprise (i) SEQ ID NO:43, particularly amino acids 21-348 of SEQ ID NO:43, (ii) SEQ ID NO:44, particularly amino acids 21-230 of SEQ ID NO:44, (iii) SEQ ID NO:47, particularly amino acids 21-348 of SEQ ID NO:47, (iv) SEQ ID NO:48, particularly amino acids 21-348 of SEQ ID NO:48, (v) SEQ ID NO: 49, particularly amino acids 21-348 of SEQ ID NO:49 or (vi) SEQ ID NO:50, particularly amino acids 21-348 of SEQ ID NO:50.

In another preferred embodiment, the fusion protein comprises TRAIL, particularly human TRAIL or receptor-binding domain thereof or a mutant of TRAIL as described herein above, and a collectin trimerization domain, which is the neck domain of human collectin 11, and the CRD of human collectin 11, e.g. amino acids 193-224 and 225-347 of SEQ ID NO:45, respectively. The cytokine and the collectin domain are connected by a linker, e.g. a glycine/serine linker as described above herein, preferably having a length of 9-15 amino acids. Preferred fusion proteins in this regard comprise SEQ ID NO:45 and SEQ ID NO:46, particularly, amino acids 21-347 of SEQ ID NO:45 or amino acids 21-229 of SEQ ID NO:46.

In another preferred embodiment, the fusion protein comprises APRIL, particularly human APRIL or a receptor binding domain thereof as described herein, e.g. amino acids 21-158 of SEQ ID NO:51 and a collectin trimerization domain as described herein, particularly the neck domain and the CRD of human SP-D or a mutant thereof, as described herein, e.g. amino acids 170-207 and 208-325 of SEQ ID NO:51, respectively. The cytokine and the collectin domain are connected by a linker, e.g. a glycine/serine linker as described herein, preferably having a length of 9-15 amino acids. The preferred fusion protein in this regard comprises SEQ ID NO:51, particularly amino acids 21-325 of SEQ ID NO:51.

In certain embodiments the effector polypeptide is an antibody. An antibody as used herein may comprise conventional wild type antibodies, as well as modified and altered antibodies. Such modifications may comprise generation of single chain antibodies, antibody fragments, humanized antibodies etc. Generally antibodies or antigen binding amino acid sequences (complementary determining regions, CDRs) may be antibodies or CDRs from any species as well as antibodies or CDRs recombinantly produced.

The antibody may be a complete antibody from human class A, E, D, M or G and preferably from IgG, or an antigen binding fragment thereof. Preferably, the antibody or an antigen binding fragment thereof is a chimeric or humanized antibody which has human constant regions, preferably IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 or IgG4 subclass or combinations thereof or engineered variants that have altered effector functions. Effector functions may by antibody dependent cellular toxicity (ADCC) and complement dependent cytotoxicity (CDC). Engineered Fc parts may also have altered pharmakokinetic properties. Further, a fully human antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof is preferred. More preferably the antibody is a humanized or human antibody or a fragment thereof which additionally comprises human or substantially human framework regions. Also preferred are antibody fragments, e.g. divalent or monovalent antibody fragments such as F(ab)2 or Fab fragments. On the other hand, the antibody may be a recombinant antibody, e.g. a single chain antibody or a fragment thereof, e.g. an scFv fragment where the Fv fragments are connected by any amino acid sequence, preferably by small polar amino acids and more preferably composed of glycine and/or serine and/or threonine. Further, the recombinant antibody may be a multimeric scFv assembly, e.g. two or more scFv-fragments linked together on a single polypeptide.

In certain embodiments the antibodies, single chain antibody or a fragment of an antibody or a single chain antibody are directed against a cytokine of the TNF superfamily, a receptor binding domain thereof or a receptor for a cytokine. In a special embodiment the antibodies are directed against is IL4R-alpha.

In certain embodiments the antibody is an antibody or an antibody fragment, e.g. chimeric or humanized antibody derived from the murine antibody X2/45 (Tony et al., 1994) produced by the hybridoma cell line DSM ACC2882. The hybridoma cell line DSM ACC2882 was deposited under the Budapest Treaty for the Deposit of Microorganisms on Jan. 29, 2008 at Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen and Zellkulturen GmbH (DSZM), Mascheroder Weg 1b, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany. Inn certain special embodiments the antibody or antibody fragment recognizes human IL4Ra-Receptor extracellular domain. In a further embodiment, the complementary determining regions of heavy and light chain of murine X2/45 have been used to generate an human or humanized antibody or a recombinant humanized antibody fragment recognizing human IL4Ra. In an preferred embodiment, an humanized scFv antibody fragment as depicted in SEQ:ID 52, position 21-264, is used as an effector polypeptide.

The fusion protein as described herein may additionally comprise an N-terminal signal peptide domain, which allows processing, e.g., extracellular secretion, in a suitable host cell. Preferably, the N-terminal signal peptide domain comprises a protease, e.g., a signal peptidase cleavage site and thus may be removed after or during expression to obtain the mature protein. In a preferred embodiment, the N-terminal signal peptide domain comprises the sequence SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:24, or SEQ ID NO:25.

Further, the fusion protein may comprise comprises a recognition/purification domain, e.g., a Strep-tag domain and/or a poly-His domain, which may be located at the N-terminus or at the C-terminus.

The fusion protein may additionally comprise a C-terminal flexible element, having a length of, e.g., 1-50, preferably 10-30 amino acids which may include and/or connect to a recognition/purification domain as described herein.

In certain embodiments the fusion protein may additionally comprise an antibody, a single chain antibody or a fragment of an antibody or single chain antibody fused to the C-terminal end of the CRD. Such antibody may in certain embodiment serve e.g. for targeting the fusion protein to certain molecules or sites. Also may such constructs offer an opportunity to create fusion polypeptides with at least two different antigen specificities.

A further aspect of the present invention relates to a nucleic acid molecule encoding a fusion protein as described herein. The nucleic acid molecule may be a DNA molecule, e.g., a double-stranded or single-stranded DNA molecule, or an RNA molecule. The nucleic acid molecule may encode the fusion protein or a precursor thereof, e.g., a pro- or pre-proform of the fusion protein which may comprise a signal sequence as described herein or other heterologous amino acid portions for secretion or purification which are preferably located at the N- and/or C-terminus of the fusion protein as described herein. The nucleic acid molecule may encode the fusion protein wherein the heterologous amino acid portions may be linked to the first and/or second domain via a protease cleavage site, e.g., a Factor X_(a), thrombin or IgA protease cleavage site.

The nucleic acid molecule may be operatively linked to an expression control sequence, e.g. an expression control sequence which allows expression of the nucleic acid molecule in a desired host cell. The nucleic acid molecule may be located on a vector, e.g. a plasmid, a bacteriophage, a viral vector, a chromosal integration vector, etc. Examples of suitable expression control sequences and vectors are described for example by Sambrook et al. (1989) Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Press, and Ausubel et al. (1989), Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons or more recent editions thereof.

Various expression vector/host cell systems may be used to express the nucleic acid sequences encoding the fusion proteins of the present invention. Suitable host cells include, but are not limited to, prokaryotic cells such as bacteria, e.g. E. coli, eukaryotic host cells such as yeast cells, insect cells, plant cells or animal cells, preferably mammalian cells and, more preferably, human cells. The nucliec acid molecule encoding the fusion protein as described herein may be optimized in view of its codon-usage for the expression in suitable host cells, e.g. E. coli, yeast cells, plant cells, insect cells, animal cells, e.g., mammalian cells or human cells.

Further, the invention relates to a non-human organism, e.g., mouse or rat, transformed or transfected with a nucleic acid molecule as described herein. Such organisms may be comprise knock-out organisms, generated by known methods of genetic transfer including homologous recombination. Alternatively, such organisms may comprise transgenic organisms which comprise several copies of the nucleic acid molecule as described herein. The generation of transgenic organisms is known in the art.

The fusion protein, the nucleic acid coding therefore, the transformed or transfected cell as well as the trimeric complexes or oligomers of the trimeric complexes, all as described herein may be used for pharmaceutical, diagnostic and/or research applications. For these applications it is preferred to use fusion proteins in which both the effector polypeptide as described herein and the collectin trimerization domain as described herein are from the same species in order to minimize immunological effects, e.g., from human when applying such proteins to humans. In addition, the fusion of an effector polypeptide as described herein to a neck-collectin trimerization domain as described herein, e.g., neck domain from surfactant protein-D or collectin-11, may lead to fast clearance. Alternatively, the fusion of a TNF-superfamily cytokine or receptor binding domain thereof as described herein to a neck and CRD-collectin trimerization domain as described herein, e.g., neck and CRD domain from surfactant protein-D or collectin-11, may lead to low clearance. The use of mutants of the collectin trimerization domain as described herein may modify the clearance rate of the fusion protein in a way as described herein.

A further aspect of the present invention relates to a pharmaceutical or diagnostic composition comprising as an active agent at least one fusion protein, the nucleic acid coding therefore, the transformed or transfected cell as well as the trimeric complexes or oligomers of the trimeric complexes, all as described herein.

At least one fusion protein, the nucleic acid coding therefore, the transformed or transfected cell as well as the trimeric complexes or oligomers of the trimeric complexes, all as described herein may be used in therapy, e.g., in the prophylaxis and/or treatment of disorders selected from proliferative disorders, particularly disorders caused by, associated with and/or accompanied by dysfunction of TNF cytokines, such as tumors, e.g. solid or lymphatic tumors, infectious diseases, inflammatory diseases, metabolic diseases, autoimmune disorders, e.g. rheumatoid and/or arthritic diseases, degenerative diseases, e.g. neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis, apoptosis-associated diseases and transplant rejections.

The fusion protein, a nucleic acid molecule, or a cell as described herein may be used in therapy of diseases, e.g. as a medicament or for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition in the prophylaxis and/or treatment of neoplastic, inflammatory, infectious, degenerative, genetic, proliferative and vascular diseases, and of premalignant and malignant cancerous conditions, cancer and inborn errors.

In certain embodiments of the invention degenerative diseases may comprise degenerative diseases of different tissues or organs such as neurodegenerative diseases, degenerative diseases of bones and the skeleton, degenerative diseases of the skin, of mucosal epithelia and may comprise e.g. osteoporesis, osteopenia, Alzheimer disease and the like.

In one embodiment, the proliferative diseases are tumors. Tumors may comprise tumors of the head and the neck, tumors of the respiratory tract, tumors of the anogenital tract, tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, tumors of the urinary system, tumors of the reproductive system, tumors of the endocrine system, tumors of the central and peripheral nervous system, tumors of the skin and its appendages, tumors of the soft tissues and bones, tumors of the lymphopoietic and hematopoietic system, etc. Tumors may comprise for example neoplasms such as benign and malignant tumors, carcinomas, sarcomas, leukemias, lymphomas or dysplasias. In a particular embodiment, the tumor is for example cancer of the head and the neck, cancer of the respiratory tract, cancer of the anogenital tract, cancer of the gastrointestinal tract, cancer of the skin and its appendages, cancer of the central and peripheral nervous system, cancer of the urinary system, cancer of the reproductive system, cancer of the endocrine system, cancer of the soft tissues and bone, cancer of the hematopoietic and lymphopoietic system.

In certain embodiments where the effector polypeptide is selected from a group consisting of a TNSF polypeptide or a cytokine Receptor polypeptide the invention also relates to a fusion protein, a nucleic acid molecule, or a cell as described herein for use in therapy, e.g., the use of a fusion protein, a nucleic acid molecule, or a cell as described herein for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition in the prophylaxis and/or treatment of proliferative disorders, particularly disorders caused by, associated with and/or accompanied by dysfunction of TNF cytokines, such as tumors, e.g. solid or lymphatic tumors, infectious diseases, inflammatory diseases, metabolic diseases, autoimmune disorders, e.g. rheumatoid and/or arthritic diseases, degenerative diseases, e.g. neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis, apoptosis-associated diseases and transplant rejections.

In certain embodiments where the effector polypeptide is an antibody, a single chain antibody or a fragment of an antibody or a single chain antibody the invention also relates to a fusion protein, a nucleic acid molecule, or a cell as described herein for use in therapy, e.g., the use of a fusion protein, a nucleic acid molecule, or a cell as described herein for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition in the prophylaxis and/or treatment of proliferative disorders, immunologic disorders, autoimmune disorders, inflammatory disease, lymphatic tumors, infectious diseases, metabolic diseases, autoimmune disorders, e.g. rheumatoid and/or arthritic diseases, degenerative diseases, e.g. neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis, apoptosis-associated diseases and transplant rejections.

The composition may be administered as monotherapy or as combination therapy with further medicaments, e.g. cytostatic or chemotherapeutic agents, corticosteroids and/or antibiotics. Preferably, the composition is administered together with tumor-selective apoptosis sensitizing and/or inducing agents, e.g. as described in Example 2.8.

The fusion protein is administered to a subject in need thereof, particularly a human patient, in a sufficient dose for the treatment of the specific conditions by suitable means. For example, the fusion protein may be formulated as a pharmaceutical composition together with pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, diluents and/or adjuvants. Therapeutic efficacy and toxicity may be determined according to standard protocols. The pharmaceutical composition may be administered systemically, e.g. intraperitoneally, intramuscularly or intravenously or locally, e.g. intranasally, subcutaneously or intrathecally. Preferred is intravenous administration.

The dose of the fusion protein administered will of course be dependent on the subject to be treated, on the subject's weight, the type and severity of the disease, the manner of administration and the judgement of the prescribing physician. For the administration of fusion proteins, a daily dose of 0.001 to 100 mg/kg is suitable.

REFERENCES

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Basic Structure of a Fusion Protein

In the following, the basic structure of the recombinant proteins of the invention is shown exemplified for the TNF-superfamily cytokines as described herein. This exemplification is not intended to limit the general scope of the invention but to give a general impression of the components present in the fusion protein.

As a basic structure the fusion protein comprises the following elements:

-   -   (i) a collectin family trimerization domain comprising         -   a. a collectin family Carbohydrate Recognition Domain; and         -   b. a collectin family neck region;     -   (ii) a linker element; and     -   (iii) an effector polypeptide, wherein the effector polypeptide         is located N-terminally of the collectin family neck region.

1.1 Sequences of the Signal Peptides

(SEQ ID NO: 23) MNFGFSLIFLVLVLKGVQC  (SEQ ID NO: 24) METDTLLLWVLLLWVPGSTG  (SEQ ID NO: 25) METDTLLLWVLLLWVPAGNG 

1.2 Flag-Epitope/Enterokinase-Processing Site

(SEQ ID NO: 32) DYKDDDDKD

1.3 Human Collectins

Surfactant Protein-D  (SEQ ID NO: 21)   1 MLLFLLSALV LLTQPLGYLE AEMKTYSHRT TPSACTLVMC SSVESGLPGR DGRDGREGPR  61 GEKGDPGLPG AAGQAGMPGQ AGPVGPKGDN GSVGEPGPKG DTGPSGPPGP PGVPGPAGRE 121 GPLGKQGNIG PQGKPGPKGE AGPKGEVGAP GMQGSAGARG LAGPKGERGV PGERGVPGNA 181 GAAGSAGAMG PQGSPGARGP PGLKGDKGIP GDKGAKGESG LPDVASLRQQ VEALQGQVQH 241 LQAAFSQYKK VELFPNGQSV GEKIFKTAGF VKPFTEAQLL CTQAGGQLAS PRSAAENAAL 301 QQLVVAKNEA AFLSMTDSKT EGKFTYPTGE SLVYSNWAPG EPNDDGGSED CVEIFTNGKW 361 NDRACGEKRL VVCEF Collectin-11 (SEQ ID NO: 22)   1 MRGNLALVGV LISLAFLSLL PSGHPQPAGD DACSVQILVP GLKGDAGEKG DKGAPGRPGR  61 VGPTGEKGDM GDKGQKGSVG RHGKIGPIGS KGEKGDSGDI GPPGPNGEPG LPCECSQLRK 121 AIGEMDNQVS QLTSELKFIK NAVAGVRETE SKIYLLVKEE KRYADAQLSC QGRGGTLSMP 181 KDEAANGLMA AYLAQAGLAR VFIGINDLEK EGAFVYSDHS PMRTFNKWRS GEPNNAYDEE 241 DCVEMVASGG WNDVACHTTM YFMCEFDKEN M

Various fragments of the human collectins Surfactant protein-D and collectin-11 are conceivable as trimerization domains as described herein.

1.4 Flexible Linker Element

(GSS)a(SSG)b(GSG)c, SEQ ID NO: 33, wherein a, b, c are each 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6.

1.5 TNF-Superfamily Cytokine/Receptor Binding Domain Thereof (See Also Table 1)

SEQ-ID-01 SEQ NP_000586_TNFSF1_LTA KEYWORD PROTEIN FEATURES ORIGIN   1 MTPPERLFLP RVCGTTLHLL LLGLLLVLLP GAQGLPGVGL TPSAAQTARQ HPKMHLAHST  61 LKPAAHLIGD PSKQNSLLWR ANTDRAFLQD GFSLSNNSLL VPTSGIYFVY SQVVFSGKAY 121 SPKATSSPLY LAHEVQLFSS QYPFHVPLLS SQKMVYPGLQ EPWLHSMYHG AAFQLTQGDQ 181 LSTHTDGIPH LVLSPSTVFF GAFAL SEQ-ID-02 SEQ NP_000585_TNFSF2_TNFa KEYWORD PROTEIN ORIGIN   1 MSTESMIRDV ELAEEALPKK TGGPQGSRRC LFLSLFSFLI VAGATTLFCL LHFGVIGPQR  61 EEFPRDLSLI SPLAQAVRSS SRTPSDKPVA HVVANPQAEG QLQWLNRRAN ALLANGVELR 121 DNQLVVPSEG LYLIYSQVLF KGQGCPSTHV LLTHTISRIA VSYQTKVNLL SAIKSPCQRE 181 TPEGAEAKPW YEPIYLGGVF QLEKGDRLSA EINRPDYLDF AESGQVYFGI IAL SEQ-ID-03 SEQ NP_002332_TNFSF3_LTB KEYWORD PROTEIN ORIGIN   1 MGALGLEGRG GRLQGRGSLL LAVAGATSLV TLLLAVPITV LAVLALVPQD QGGLVTETAD  61 PGAQAQQGLG FQKLPEEEPE TDLSPGLPAA HLIGAPLKGQ GLGWETTKEQ AFLTSGTQFS 121 DAEGLALPQD GLYYLYCLVG YRGRAPPGGG DPQGRSVTLR SSLYRAGGAY GPGTPELLLE 181 GAETVTPVLD PARRQGYGPL WYTSVGFGGL VQLRRGERVY VNISHPDMVD FARGKTFFGA 241 VMVG SEQ-ID-04 SEQ NP_003317_TNFSF4_OX40L KEYWORD PROTEIN ORIGIN   1 MERVQPLEEN VGNAARPRFE RNKLLLVASV IQGLGLLLCF TYICLHFSAL QVSHRYPRIQ  61 SIKVQFTEYK KEKGFILTSQ KEDEIMKVQN NSVIINCDGF YLISLKGYFS QEVNISLHYQ 121 KDEEPLFQLK KVRSVNSLMV ASLTYKDKVY LNVTTDNTSL DDFHVNGGEL ILIHQNPGEF 181 CVL SEQ-ID-05 SEQ NP_000065_TNFSF5_CD40L KEYWORD PROTEIN ORIGIN   1 MIETYNQTSP RSAATGLPIS MKIFMYLLTV FLITQMIGSA LFAVYLHRRL DKIEDERNLH  61 EDFVFMKTIQ RCNTGERSLS LLNCEEIKSQ FEGFVKDIML NKEETKKENS FEMQKGDQNP 121 QIAAHVISEA SSKTTSVLQW AEKGYYTMSN NLVTLENGKQ LTVKRQGLYY IYAQVTFCSN 181 REASSQAPFI ASLCLKSPGR FERILLRAAN THSSAKPCGQ QSIHLGGVFE LQPGASVFVN 241 VTDPSQVSHG TGFTSFGLLK L SEQ-ID-06 SEQ NP_000630_TNFSF6_CD95L KEYWORD PROTEIN ORIGIN   1 MQQPFNYPYP QIYWVDSSAS SPWAPPGTVL PCPTSVPRRP GQRRPPPPPP PPPLPPPPPP  61 PPLPPLPLPP LKKRGNHSTG LCLLVMFFMV LVALVGLGLG MFQLFHLQKE LAELRESTSQ 121 MHTASSLEKQ IGHPSPPPEK KELRKVAHLT GKSNSRSMPL EWEDTYGIVL LSGVKYKKGG 181 LVINETGLYF VYSKVYFRGQ SCNNLPLSHK VYMRNSKYPQ DLVMMEGKMM SYCTTGQMWA 241 RSSYLGAVFN LTSADHLYVN VSELSLVNFE ESQTFFGLYK L SEQ-ID-07 SEQ NP_001243_TNFSF7_CD27L KEYWORD PROTEIN ORIGIN   1 MPEEGSGCSV RRRPYGCVLR AALVPLVAGL VICLVVCIQR FAQAQQQLPL ESLGWDVAEL  61 QLNHTGPQQD PRLYWQGGPA LGRSFLHGPE LDKGQLRIHR DGIYMVHIQV TLAICSSTTA 121 SRHHPTTLAV GICSPASRSI SLLRLSFHQG CTIASQRLTP LARGDTLCTN LTGTLLPSRN 181 TDETFFGVQW VRP SEQ-ID-08 SEQ NP_001235_TNFSF8_CD30L KEYWORD PROTEIN ORIGIN   1 MDPGLQQALN GMAPPGDTAM HVPAGSVASH LGTTSRSYFY LTTATLALCL VFTVATIMVL  61 VVQRTDSIPN SPDNVPLKGG NCSEDLLCIL KRAPFKKSWA YLQVAKHLNK TKLSWNKDGI 121 LHGVRYQDGN LVIQFPGLYF IICQLQFLVQ CPNNSVDLKL ELLINKHIKK QALVTVCESG 181 MQTKHVYQNL SQFLLDYLQV NTTISVNVDT FQYIDTSTFP LENVLSIFLY SNSD SEQ-ID-09 SEQ NP_003802_TNFSF9_CD137L KEYWORD PROTEIN ORIGIN   1 MEYASDASLD PEAPWPPAPR ARACRVLPWA LVAGLLLLLL LAAACAVFLA CPWAVSGARA  61 SPGSAASPRL REGPELSPDD PAGLLDLRQG MFAQLVAQNV LLIDGPLSWY SDPGLAGVSL 121 TGGLSYKEDT KELVVAKAGV YYVFFQLELR RVVAGEGSGS VSLALHLQPL RSAAGAAALA 181 LTVDLPPASS EARNSAFGFQ GRLLHLSAGQ RLGVHLHTEA RARHAWQLTQ GATVLGLFRV 241 TPEIPAGLPS PRSE SEQ-ID-10 SEQ NP_003801_TNFSF10_TRAIL KEYWORD PROTEIN ORIGIN   1 MAMMEVQGGP SLGQTCVLIV IFTVLLQSLC VAVTYVYFTN ELKQMQDKYS KSGIACFLKE  61 DDSYWDPNDE ESMNSPCWQV KWQLRQLVRK MILRTSEETI STVQEKQQNI SPLVRERGPQ 121 RVAAHITGTR GRSNTLSSPN SKNEKALGRK INSWESSRSG HSFLSNLHLR NGELVIHEKG 181 FYYIYSQTYF RFQEEIKENT KNDKQMVQYI YKYTSYPDPI LLMKSARNSC WSKDAEYGLY 241 SIYQGGIFEL KENDRIFVSV TNEHLIDMDH EASFFGAFLV G SEQ-ID-11 SEQ NP_003692_TNFSF11_a_RANKL KEYWORD PROTEIN ORIGIN   1 MRRASRDYTK YLRGSEEMGG GPGAPHEGPL HAPPPPAPHQ PPAASRSMFV ALLGLGLGQV  61 VCSVALFFYF RAQMDPNRIS EDGTHCIYRI LRLHENADFQ DTTLESQDTK LIPDSCRRIK 121 QAFQGAVQKE LQHIVGSQHI RAEKAMVDGS WLDLAKRSKL EAQPFAHLTI NATDIPSGSH 181 KVSLSSWYHD RGWAKISNMT FSNGKLIVNQ DGFYYLYANI CFRHHETSGD LATEYLQLMV 241 YVTKTSIKIP SSHTLMKGGS TKYWSGNSEF HFYSINVGGF FKLRSGEEIS IEVSNPSLLD 301 PDQDATYFGA FKVRDID SEQ-ID-12 SEQ NP_003800_TNFSF12_TWEAK KEYWORD PROTEIN ORIGIN   1 MAARRSQRRR GRRGEPGTAL LVPLALGLGL ALACLGLLLA VVSLGSRASL SAQEPAQEEL  61 VAEEDQDPSE LNPQTEESQD PAPFLNRLVR PRRSAPKGRK TRARRAIAAH YEVHPRPGQD 121 GAQAGVDGTV SGWEEARINS SSPLRYNRQI GEFIVTRAGL YYLYCQVHFD EGKAVYLKLD 181 LLVDGVLALR CLEEFSATAA SSLGPQLRLC QVSGLLALRP GSSLRIRTLP WAHLKAAPFL 241 TYFGLFQVH SEQ-ID-13 SEQ NP_742085_TNFSF13-APRIL_ver1 KEYWORD PROTEIN ORIGIN   1 MPASSPFLLA PKGPPGNMGG PVREPALSVA LWLSWGAALG AVACAMALLT QQTELQSLRR  61 EVSRLQGTGG PSQNGEGYPW QSLPEQSSDA LEAWENGERS RKRRAVLTQK QKKQHSVLHL 121 VPINATSKDD SDVTEVMWQP ALRRGRGLQA QGYGVRIQDA GVYLLYSQVL FQDVTFTMGQ 181 VVSREGQGRQ ETLFRCIRSM PSHPDRAYNS CYSAGVFHLH QGDILSVIIP RARAKLNLSP 241 HGTFLGL SEQ-ID-14 SEQ NP_003799_TNFSF13_APRIL_ver2 KEYWORD PROTEIN ORIGIN   1 MPASSPFLLA PKGPPGNMGG PVREPALSVA LWLSWGAALG AVACAMALLT QQTELQSLRR  61 EVSRLQGTGG PSQNGEGYPW QSLPEQSSDA LEAWENGERS RKRRAVLTQK QKKQHSVLHL 121 VPINATSKDD SDVTEVMWQP ALRRGRGLQA QGYGVRIQDA GVYLLYSQVL FQDVTFTMGQ 181 VVSREGQGRQ ETLFRCIRSM PSHPDRAYNS CYSAGVFHLH QGDILSVIIP RARAKLNLSP 241 HGTFLGFVKL SEQ-ID-15 SEQ NP_006564_TNFSF13b_BAFF KEYWORD PROTEIN ORIGIN   1 MDDSTEREQS RLTSCLKKRE EMKLKECVSI LPRKESPSVR SSKDGKLLAA TLLLALLSCC  61 LTVVSFYQVA ALQGDLASLR AELQGHHAEK LPAGAGAPKA GLEEAPAVTA GLKIFEPPAP 121 GEGNSSQNSR NKRAVQGPEE TVTQDCLQLI ADSETPTIQK GSYTFVPWLL SFKRGSALEE 181 KENKILVKET GYFFIYGQVL YTDKTYAMGH LIQRKKVHVF GDELSLVTLF RCIQNMPETL 241 PNNSCYSAGI AKLEEGDELQ LAIPRENAQI SLDGDVTFFG ALKLL SEQ-ID-16 SEQ NP_003798-TNFSF14_LIGHT KEYWORD PROTEIN ORIGIN   1 MEESVVRPSV FVVDGQTDIP FTRLGRSHRR QSCSVARVGL GLLLLLMGAG LAVQGWFLLQ  61 LHWRLGEMVT RLPDGPAGSW EQLIQERRSH EVNPAAHLTG ANSSLTGSGG PLLWETQLGL 121 AFLRGLSYHD GALVVTKAGY YYIYSKVQLG GVGCPLGLAS TITHGLYKRT PRYPEELELL 181 VSQQSPCGRA TSSSRVWWDS SFLGGVVHLE AGEKVVVRVL DERLVRLRDG TRSYFGAFMV SEQ-ID-17 SEQ NP_005109_TNFSF15_TL1A KEYWORD PROTEIN ORIGIN   1 MAEDLGLSFG ETASVEMLPE HGSCRPKARS SSARWALTCC LVLLPFLAGL TTYLLVSQLR  61 AQGEACVQFQ ALKGQEFAPS HQQVYAPLRA DGDKPRAHLT VVRQTPTQHF KNQFPALHWE 121 HELGLAFTKN RMNYTNKFLL IPESGDYFIY SQVTFRGMTS ECSEIRQAGR PNKPDSITVV 181 ITKVTDSYPE PTQLLMGTKS VCEVGSNWFQ PIYLGAMFSL QEGDKLMVNV SDISLVDYTK 241 EDKTFFGAFL L SEQ-ID-18 SEQ NP-005083-TNFSF18_GITRL KEYWORD PROTEIN ORIGIN   1 MCLSHLENMP LSHSRTQGAQ RSSWKLWLFC SIVMLLFLCS FSWLIFIFLQ LETAKEPCMA  61 KFGPLPSKWQ MASSEPPCVN KVSDWKLEIL QNGLYLIYGQ VAPNANYNDV APFEVRLYKN 121 KDMIQTLTNK SKIQNVGGTY ELHVGDTIDL IFNSEHQVLK NNTYWGIILL ANPQFIS SEQ-ID-19 SEQ NP_001390-EDA-A1 KEYWORD PROTEIN ORIGIN   1 MGYPEVERRE LLPAAAPRER GSQGCGCGGA PARAGEGNSC LLFLGFFGLS LALHLLTLCC  61 YLELRSELRR ERGAESRLGG SGTPGTSGTL SSLGGLDPDS PITSHLGQPS PKQQPLEPGE 121 AALHSDSQDG HQMALLNFFF PDEKPYSEEE SRRVRRNKRS KSNEGADGPV KNKKKGKKAG 181 PPGPNGPPGP PGPPGPQGPP GIPGIPGIPG TTVMGPPGPP GPPGPQGPPG LQGPSGAADK 241 AGTRENQPAV VHLQGQGSAI QVKNDLSGGV LNDWSRITMN PKVFKLHPRS GELEVLVDGT 301 YFIYSQVEVY YINFTDFASY EVVVDEKPFL QCTRSIETGK TNYNTCYTAG VCLLKARQKI 361 AVKMVHADIS INMSKHTTFF GAIRLGEAPA S SEQ-ID-20 SEQ NP_001005609_EDA-A2 KEYWORD PROTEIN ORIGIN   1 MGYPEVERRE LLPAAAPRER GSQGCGCGGA PARAGEGNSC LLFLGFFGLS LALHLLTLCC  61 YLELRSELRR ERGAESRLGG SGTPGTSGTL SSLGGLDPDS PITSHLGQPS PKQQPLEPGE 121 AALHSDSQDG HQMALLNFFF PDEKPYSEEE SRRVRRNKRS KSNEGADGPV KNKKKGKKAG 181 PPGPNGPPGP PGPPGPQGPP GIPGIPGIPG TTVMGPPGPP GPPGPQGPPG LQGPSGAADK 241 AGTRENQPAV VHLQGQGSAI QVKNDLSGGV LNDWSRITMN PKVFKLHPRS GELEVLVDGT 301 YFIYSQVYYI NFTDFASYEV VVDEKPFLQC TRSIETGKTN YNTCYTAGVC LLKARQKIAV 361 KMVHADISIN MSKHTTFFGA IRLGEAPAS

Various fragments, e.g., receptor binding domains, of TNF-superfamily cytokines are conceivable as described herein.

1.6 Examples of Fusion Proteins

SP-hsTrailsyn-SPD-Konstrukt-1_PRO.PRO SEQ ID NO: 26  KEYWORD  PROTEIN ORIGIN   1 METDTLLLWV LLLWVPAGNG QRVAAHITGT RGRSNTLSSP NSKNEKALGR KINSWESSRS  61 GHSFLSNLHL RNGELVIHEK GFYYIYSQTY FRFQEEIKEN TKNDKQMVQY IYKYTSYPDP 121 ILLMKSARNS CWSKDAEYGL YSIYQGGIFE LKENDRIFVS VTNEHLIDMD HEASFFGAFL 181 VGSGLPDVAS LRQQVEALQG QVQHLQAAFS QYKKVELFPN GQSVGEKIFK TAGFVKPFTE 241 AQLLCTQAGG QLASPRSAAE NAALQQLVVA KNEAAFLSMT DSKTEGKFTY PTGESLVYSN 301 WAPGEPNDDG GSEDCVEIFT NGKWNDRACG EKRLVVCEF SP-hsTrailsyn-SPD-Konstrukt-2_PRO.PRO SEQ ID NO: 27  KEYWORD  PROTEIN ORIGIN   1 METDTLLLWV LLLWVPGSTG ERGPQRVAAH ITGTRGRSNT LSSPNSKNEK ALGRKINSWE  61 SSRSGHSFLS NLHLRNGELV IHEKGFYYIY SQTYFRFQEE IKENTKNDKQ MVQYIYKYTS 121 YPDPILLMKS ARNSCWSKDA EYGLYSIYQG GIFELKENDR IFVSVTNEHL IDMDHEASFF 181 GAFLVGSGLP DVASLRQQVE ALQGQVQHLQ AAFSQYKKVE LFPNGQSVGE KIFKTAGFVK 241 PFTEAQLLCT QAGGQLASPR SAAENAALQQ LVVAKNEAAF LSMTDSKTEG KFTYPTGESL 301 VYSNWAPGEP NDDGGSEDCV EIFTNGKWND RACGEKRLVV CEF SEQ ID NO: 28 ORIGIN   1 METDTLLLWV LLLWVPGSTG ERGPQRVAAH ITGTRGRSNT LSSPNSKNEK ALGRKINSWE  61 SSRSGHSFLS NLHLRNGELV IHEKGFYYIY SQTYFRFQEE IKENTKNDKQ MVQYIYKYTS 121 YPDPILLMKS ARNSCWSKDA EYGLYSIYQG GIFELKENDR IFVSVTNEHL IDMDHEASFF 181 GAFLVGSGLP DVASLRQQVE ALQGQVQHLQ AAFSQYKKVE LFPNG SP-hsTrailsyn-coll11-Konstrukt-1.pro SEQ ID NO: 29 KEYWORD PROTEIN ORIGIN   1 METDTLLLWV LLLWVPAGNG QRVAAHITGT RGRSNTLSSP NSKNEKALGR KINSWESSRS  61 GHSFLSNLHL RNGELVIHEK GFYYIYSQTY FRFQEEIKEN TKNDKQMVQY IYKYTSYPDP 121 ILLMKSARNS CWSKDAEYGL YSIYQGGIFE LKENDRIFVS VTNEHLIDMD HEASFFGAFL 181 VGSQLRKAIG EMDNQVSQLT SELKFIKNAV AGVRETESKI YLLVKEEKRY ADAQLSCQGR 241 GGTLSMPKDE AANGLMAAYL AQAGLARVFI GINDLEKEGA FVYSDHSPMR TFNKWRSGEP 301 NNAYDEEDCV EMVASGGWND VACHTTMYFM CEFDKENM SP-hsTrailsyn-coll-11-Konstrukt-2.pro SEQ ID NO: 30 KEYWORD PROTEIN ORIGIN   1 METDTLLLWV LLLWVPGSTG ERGPQRVAAH ITGTRGRSNT LSSPNSKNEK ALGRKINSWE  61 SSRSGHSFLS NLHLRNGELV IHEKGFYYIY SQTYFRFQEE IKENTKNDKQ MVQYIYKYTS 121 YPDPILLMKS ARNSCWSKDA EYGLYSIYQG GIFELKENDR IFVSVTNEHL IDMDHEASFF 181 GAFLVGSQLR KAIGEMDNQV SQLTSELKFI KNAVAGVRET ESKIYLLVKE EKRYADAQLS 241 CQGRGGTLSM PKDEAANGLM AAYLAQAGLA RVFIGINDLE KEGAFVYSDH SPMRTFNKWR 301 SGEPNNAYDE EDCVEMVASG GWNDVACHTT MYFMCEFDKE NM SP-hsTrailsyn-coll-11-Konstrukt-3.pro SEQ ID NO: 31 KEYWORD PROTEIN ORIGIN   1 METDTLLLWV LLLWVPGSTG ERGPQRVAAH ITGTRGRSNT LSSPNSKNEK ALGRKINSWE  61 SSRSGHSFLS NLHLRNGELV IHEKGFYYIY SQTYFRFQEE IKENTKNDKQ MVQYIYKYTS 121 YPDPILLMKS ARNSCWSKDA EYGLYSIYQG GIFELKENDR IFVSVTNEHL IDMDHEASFF 181 GAFLVGSQLR KAIGEMDNQV SQLTSELKFI KNAVAGVRET ES

EXAMPLES 1.1 Construction of TNF-SF-Proteins Stabilised by a C-Terminal Positioned Collectin Derived Trimerization Domain

The trimerization motifs (Tables 2. and 3) derived from human Collectin-11 (Col11), the “coiled coil” of Collectin-11 (CC11), human pulmonary surfactant protein-D (SP-D), the “coiled coil” of SP-D (CCSPD) were fused C-terminally to the human receptor binding domain (RBD) of CD95L (“CD95L-RBD”; Glu142-Leu281), human TRAIL-RBD (Gln120-Gly281), human LIGHT-RBD (Glu91-Val240) and human APRIL-RBD (Lys113-Leu250), respectively.

TABLE 2 List of the used regions from wild type (wt) sequences for the construction of trimerizing motifs. Amino acids of the unprocessed Trimerization wt sequences used for motif motif construction Swiss-Prot entry SPD 220-375 P35247 SPD_F335A 220-375; Phe355 -> Ala355 P35247 SPD_F335D 220-375; Phe355 -> Asp355 P35247 CCSPD 220-257 P35247 Col11 117-271 Q9BWP8 CC11 116-151 Q9BWP8

TABLE 3 Explanation of C-terminal trimerization motifs used to generate stable TNFSF fusion proteins. Trimerization motif Explanation SPD human Surfactant protein-D (coiled-coiled “neck” + Carbohydrate Recognition Domain, CRD) SPD_F335A as in 1, but with the mutation Phe -> Ala at position 335 (numbering referring to processed wild type SP-D) SPD_F335D as in 1, but with the mutation Phe -> Asp at position 335 (numbering referring to processed wild type SP-D) CCSPD coiled-coiled “neck” of human SP-D Col11 human Collectin-11 (coiled-coiled “neck” + CRD of human Collectin-11) CC11 coiled-coiled “neck” of human Collectin-11 T4 Bacteriophage T4 Whisker protein (WO2008025516) 69 Bacteriophage 69 Whisker protein (WO2008025516)

Between the TNFSF-RBD and the trimerization domain, a flexible linker element was placed with varying lengths (Table 4):

TABLE 4 Linker names and amino acid sequence (G = glycine; S = serine) Linker name Amino-acid sequence A GSS GSS GSS GS (SEQ ID NO: 34) B GSS GSS GS (SEQ ID NO: 35) C GSS GS (SEQ ID NO: 36) D GS

1.2 Generation of Expression Constructs

The nucleic acid molecule encoding the fusion protein as described herein may be cloned into a suitable vector for expressing the fusion protein. The molecular tools necessary in order to generate such a vector are known to the skilled person and comprise restriction enzymes, vectors, and suitable host for propagating the vectors.

For purification and analytical strategies, a Strep-tag II (amino acid sequence WSHPQFEK, SEQ ID NO: 38) was added C-terminally. This affinity tag was linked to the trimerization domain by a flexible linker element (amino acid sequence PSSSSSSA, SEQ ID NO: 39). To allow for secretory based expression, signal peptides derived from human Iv were fused to the N-termini of said proteins. The amino acid sequences of the fusion proteins were backtranslated and their codon usage optimised for mammalian cell-based expression. Gene synthesis was done by ENTELECHON GmbH (Regensburg, Germany). The final expression cassettes were subcloned into pcDNA4-H isMax-backbone, using unique Hind-III- and Not-I-sites of the plasmid. All expression cassettes were routinely verified by DNA sequencing.

Data will be presented herein for the following constructs (Table 5a and 5b):

TABLE 5a Overview of TRAIL fusion proteins with shown data. TRAIL TRAIL Mutein TRAIL Mutein (wild-type) (R1-specific) (R2-specific) Linker: Motif A B C D A B C D A B C D SPD      n.s. n.s.   n.s. n.s.  SPD_F335A  n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. SPD_F335D  n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. CCSPD      n.s. n.s.   n.s. n.s.  Col11     n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. CC11     n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. T4     n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. 69     n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. Filled circles indicate that data are presented. N.s., not shown.

TABLE 1 5b: Overview of LIGHT-, APRIL-, and CD95L-constructs with shown data. Filled circles indicate that data are presented. N.s., not shown. LIGHT APRIL CD95L Motif Linker: A A A SPD • • • CCSPD • • n.s. Col11 • • n.s. 69 • • n.s.

1.3 Expression and Purification of Engineered Ligands of the TNF Superfamily

Hek 293T cells grown in DMEM+GlutaMAX (GibCo) supplemented with 10% FBS, 100 units/ml Penicillin and 100 μg/ml Streptomycin were transiently transfected with plasmids encoding a fusion protein as described herein. Cell culture supernatant containing recombinant proteins were harvested three days post transfection and clarified by centrifugation at 300×g followed by filtration through a 0.22 μm sterile filter. For affinity purification, 4 ml of 50% Streptactin Sepharose (IBA GmbH, Göttingen, Germany) were packed to a 2 ml column and equilibrated with 30 ml phosphate buffered saline, pH 7.4 (PBS; Invitrogen Cat. 10010) or buffer W (100 mM Tris-HCl, 150 mM NaCl pH 8.0). The cell culture supernatant was applied to the column at 4° C. with a flow rate of 2 ml/min. Subsequently, the column was washed with PBS or buffer W and specifically bound proteins were eluted stepwise by addition of 5×2 ml buffer E (PBS or buffer W with 2.5 mM Desthiobiotin, pH 7.4). The protein content of the eluate fractions was analysed by absorption spectroscopy and by silver-stained SDS-PAGE. Postitive fractions were subsequently concentrated by ultrafiltration (Sartorius, Vivaspin, 10,000 Da cut-off) and further analysed by size exclusion chromatography (SEC).

SEC was performed on a Superdex 200 column using an Akta chromatography system (GE-Healthcare). The column was equilibrated with PBS (Invitrogen Cat. 10010) and the concentrated, streptactin purified proteins were loaded onto the SEC column at a flow rate of 0.5 ml/min. The elution of was monitored by absorbance at 280 nm. The apparent molecular weight of purified proteins were determined based on calibration of the Superdex 200 column with gel filtration standard proteins (Bio-Rad GmbH, München, Germany).

1.4. Cell Death Assays

To analyze caspase activation, a cellular assay with the Jurkat A3 permanent human T-cell line (cat. no. CRL2570, ATCC) was used. Jurkat cells were grown in flasks with RPMI 1640-medium+GlutaMAX (GibCo) supplemented with 10% FBS (Biochrom), 100 units/ml Penicillin and 100 μg/ml Streptomycin (GibCo). Prior to the assay, 100,000 cells were seeded per well into a 96-well microtiterplate. The addition of different solutions containing the protein with or without a crosslinking antibody to the wells (final volume: 200 μl) was followed by a 3 hour incubation at 37° C. Cells were lysed by adding 20 μl lysis buffer (250 mM HEPES, 50 mM MgCl₂, 10 mM EGTA, 5% Triton-X-100, 100 mM DTT, 10 mM AEBSF, pH 7.5) and plates were incubated on ice for 30 minutes to 2 hours. Apoptosis is paralleled by an increased activity of Caspases. Hence, cleavage of the specific Caspase substrate Ac-DEVD-AFC (Biomol) was used to determine the extent of apoptosis. For the Caspase activity assay, 20 μl cell lysate was transferred to a black 96-well microtiterplate. After the addition of 80 μl buffer containing 50 mM HEPES, 1% Sucrose, 0.1% CHAPS, 50 μM Ac-DEVD-AFC, and 25 mM DTT, pH 7.5, the plate was transferred to a Tecan Infinite F500 microtiterplate reader and the increase in fluorescence intensity was monitored (excitation wavelength 400 nm, emission wavelength 505 nm).

For the determination of cell death in HT1080 fibrosarcoma, HeLa cervix carcinoma and WM35 melanoma cells, 15,000 cells were plated in 96-well plates over night in RPMI 1640-medium+GlutaMAX (GibCo) supplemented with 10% FBS (Biochrom). For Colo205 cells, 50,000 cells were plated over night. Cells were stimulated the following day with indicated ligand and incubated for an additional 18 hours. For HeLa and HT1080 cells, cycloheximide (Sigma) at a final concentration of 2.5 μg/ml was used during stimulation with ligands. Cell death of HT1080, HeLa and WM35 was quantified by staining with buffer KV (0.5% crystal violet, 20% methanol). After staining, the wells were washed with water and air-dried. The dye was eluted with methanol and optical density at 595 nm was measured with an ELISA reader. Viability of Colo205 cells was quantified by MTS assay (Promega).

1.5 Hepatocellular Cytotoxicity Assay

To determine the effect of TRAIL fusion proteins, primary human hepatocytes were prepared from healthy donors and cultured in Williams E medium using 25,000 cells per well in 96-well plates. At day two, medium was changed to DMEM-F12 supplemented with 10% FCS, human insulin, Pen/Strep, minimum essential medium (MEM), sodium pyruvate and 10 mM Hepes and cultured for another day. Cells were stimulated at day three with varying concentrations of indicated proteins in presence or absence of cross-linking antibodies (StrepMablmmo, IBA GmbH). To evaluate the potential hepatotoxic effect of a cotreatment of ligands with chemotherapeutic agents, TRAIL-ASPD_F335D was coincubated at varying concentrations together with 5 mM of doxorubicin or 5 mM gemcitabine. Cells were incubated for 5 or 24 hours at 37° C. and 5% CO₂ and were then lysed for determination of caspase activity as described in section “Cell death assays”.

1.6 Streptactin-ELISA

To determine the binding of receptors to constructed ligands, streptactin-coated 96-well microplates were used. Therefore, supernatants from transiently transfected HEK293 cells, mouse sera or purified proteins were immobilized on streptactin-plates (IBA GmbH) for 1-3 hours in PBS. Samples were diluted in ELISA binding/blocking buffer (PBS, 0.1% Tween-20, 20% SuperBlock T20-PBS (Pierce)). Plates were washed with PBS+0.1% Tween-20 and incubated with mouse-anti-TRAIL antibody (Pharmingen, clone RIK-2), TRAIL-Receptor 1-Fc (R&D Systems), TRAIL-Receptor 2-Fc (R&D Systems), TACI-Fc (R&D Systems) or HVEM-Fc (R&D Systems) for one hour at room temperature. Plates were again washed and Fc-proteins were detected with anti-human- or anti-mouse-Fc-specific peroxidase-conjugated antibodies (Sigma). Colour reaction was done by addition of 100 μl per well of TMB substrate (Kem-En-Tec Diagnostics) and the absorbance at 450 nm and 630 nm was determined with an ELISA reader after addition of 25 μl of 25% H₂SO₄ as stop-solution. Values were calculated as 450 nm-630 nm with MS Excel.

1.7 Mannan-Binding Assay

ELISA plates (Nunc Maxisorp) were incubated over night at 4° C. with 10 μg/well of yeast mannan (Sigma) in sterile coating buffer (15 mM Na₂CO₃, 35 mM NaHCO₃, 0.025% NaN₃, pH 9.6). Plates were first incubated for one hour at room temperature with buffer BB (20 mM Tris, 140 mM NaCl, 5 mM CaCl₂, 0.1% BSA and 20% SuperBlock T20-PBS (Pierce)) and secondly for additional 90 minutes with varying concentrations of indicated ligands in buffer BB. Plates were washed with buffer WB (20 mM Tris, 140 mM NaCl, 5 mM CaCl₂, 0.05% Tween-20) and detection was done by using streptactin-HRP (IBA GmbH) in buffer BB. Plates were washed and developed with TMB substrate (Kem-En-Tec Diagnostics). The absorption at 450 nm and 630 nm was determined with an ELISA reader after addition of 25 μl of 25% H₂SO₄ as stop-solution. Values were calculated as 450 nm-630 nm with MS Excel.

1.8 Pharmacokinetics of TRAIL-SPD Fusion Proteins

Male CD1 mice (Charles River) were intravenously injected with 10 μg protein dissolved in 300 μl PBS (Invitrogen). Blood was collected after 0 min (predose), 5 min, 30 min, 2 hours, 6 hours and 24 hours. For each time point, two samples were collected. Blood samples were processed to obtain serum and were stored at −15° C. The concentration of TRAIL-fusion proteins was determined using an ELISA as described below (chapter 1.9) and half-lives were calculated (GraphPad Prism v4.0).

1.9 ELISA for the Quantitation of TRAIL-Constructs in Mouse Sera

To quantitate the concentration of TRAIL proteins in mouse sera (originating from pharmacokinetic studies), an ELISA method employing 96-well microplates was used.

ELISA plates were coated for 1 h at 37° C. with 2 μg/ml mouse-anti-TRAIL (clone RIK-2; Pharmingen). After washing with PBS+0.1% Tween-20 and blocking the plate for 30 min at 37° C. with StartingBlock™ (Pierce), serum samples at a concentration of 0.2% and 5%, calibration samples and control samples were added and incubated for 1 h at 37° C. Calibration and control samples were prepared from the respective TRAIL batch (TRAIL-ASPD or TRAIL-ASPD-F335A or TRAIL-ASPD-F335D) and were supplemented with 0.2% or 5% non-treated pooled CD1-mouse serum to account for potential matrix effects. Control samples (high, medium and low concentration of the TRAIL-construct) were added as quality controls to ensure precision and accuracy of the TRAIL-quantitation in the given assay window. Plates were again washed and the StrepTag-containing TRAIL-constructs were detected with 1:1000 diluted StrepTactin-POD (IBA). All samples and proteins were diluted with ELISA buffer (PBS, 0.1% Tween-20, 5% StartingBlock (Pierce)). The colour reaction started after addition of 100 μl per well TMB substrate (Kem-En-Tec Diagnostics). the absorbance at 450 nm and 630 nm was determined with an ELISA reader after addition of 25 μl of 25% H2SO4 as stop-solution. Values were calculated as 450 nm-630 nm with MS Excel.

2. Results 2.1 Characterization of CD95L Fusion Protein (CD95L-ASPD)

From the Streptactin-affinity purified CD95L-ASPD 0.5 ml (0.86 mg protein) were loaded with a flow rate of 0.5 ml/min onto a Superdex200 column using PBS as running buffer. Fractions of 0.5 ml were collected (A1 to A11 are indicated). The retention volume of the major peak at 11.92 ml corresponded to 170 kDa as determined from size exclusion standard. This indicated that the protein is a trimer composed of glycosylated monomers. The calculated molecular weight of the monomeric polypeptide is 38 kDa. An aliquot of fractions A1 to A11 was used for SDS-PAGE and caspase activity. Only the defined trimeric peak (fractions A7 to A10) was used for final analyses. The results are shown in FIG. 1.

An aliquot from size exclusion chromatography of affinity purified CD95L-ASPD was used for reducing SDS-PAGE followed by silver staining. The band detected at approximately 40-45 kDa (indicated by an arrow) corresponded to CD95L-ASPD. The trimeric species was present in fractions A7 to A10. The results are shown in FIG. 2.

Jurkat cells were incubated with aliquots at a final 8-fold dilution from fractions A1 to A15 from SEC with affinity purified CD95L-ASPD. Cells were lysed after 3 h incubation and the caspase activity was determined with a fluorogenic assay. The fractions corresponding to the trimeric peak (fractions A7-A10) induced clear but weak caspase activity in Jurkat as these cells are known to require extensively cross-linked ligand. The aggregated and undefined species in fractions A1-A6 is therefore a potent inducer of caspase activation (not used further). Importantly, only the defined trimeric species (A7 to A10) was collected and used for final analyses. The results are shown in FIG. 3.

The human cancer cell lines HT1080 (A), HeLa (B) or WM35 (C) were incubated with indicated concentrations of purified, trimeric CD95L-ASPD in the presence or absence of cross-linking antibody (2.5 microgram/ml of anti-Strep-tag II). Cells were incubated for 18 h and cytotoxicity was analyzed by crystal violet staining. As a result, CD95L-ASPD induced cell death in HeLa cervix cacinoma and HT1080 fibrosarcoma, but not in WM35 melanoma cells. The results are shown in FIG. 4.

The amino acid sequence of CD95L-ASPD is shown below.

SEQ ID 40 Sp-CD95L-ASPD Total amino acid number: 346, MW = 37682 ORIGIN   1 METDTLLLWV LLLWVPGSTG ELRKVAHLTG KSNSRSMPLE WEDTYGIVLL SGVKYKKGGL  61 VINETGLYFV YSKVYFRGQS CNNLPLSHKV YMRNSKYPQD LVMMEGKMMS YCTTGQMWAR 121  SSYVGAVFNL TSADHLYVNV SELSLVNFEE SQTFFGLYKL GSSGSSGSSG SGLPDVASLR 181 QQVEALQGQV QHLQAAFSQY KKVELFPNGQ SVGEKIFKTA GFVKPFTEAQ LLCTQAGGQL 241 ASPRSAAENA ALQQLVVAKN EAAFLSMTDS KTEGKFTYPT GESLVYSNWA PGEPNDDGGS 301 EDCVEIFTNG KWNDRACGEK RLVVCEFGGS PSSSSSSAWS HPQFEK   1-20: Secretion signal peptide (Sp; underlined)  21-160: CD95L-receptor binding domain 161-171: Flexible linker element (A-linker; italic) 172-209: Coiled coil ″neck″ region of human SP-D 210-327: C-type lectin domain of human SP-D 328-338: Linker element (GGSPSSSSSSA) 339-346: Strep-tag II (WSHPQFEK)

2.2 Characterization of LIGHT Fusion Proteins (LIGHT-ASPD)

From affinity purified LIGHT-ASPD 0.5 ml (1.56 mg) were loaded onto a Superdex 200 column and resolved at 0.5 ml/min using PBS as running buffer. The major peak detected at 11.96 ml corresponded to a size of 170-180 kDa indicating that LIGHT-ASPD is a trimer composed of three glycosylated monomers. The trimeric peak (fractions A7 to A10) was collected and used for final analyses. The inset shows the silver stained SDS-PAGE of two independent purified and trimeric LIGHT-ASPD batches (designated 0917 and 0918). The results are shown in FIG. 5.

Varying concentrations (0-10 microgram/ml) of affinity and SEC purified, trimeric LIGHT-ASPD were used for immobilized via the Strep-tag II on Streptactin-coated microplates. LIGHT-ASPD was then detected in a ELISA set-up using 100 ng/ml of Fc-fusion proteins of the receptors HVEM and TRAIL-Receptor 1, respectively. Whereas the ELISA signal increased for HVEM-Fc with increasing amounts of immobilized ligand, no signal was detected for TRAIL-Receptor 1-Fc over the whole range analyzed. This indicated that LIGHT-ASPD is a functional molecule that could bind to its receptor HVEM. The results are shown in FIG. 6.

The amino acid sequence of the LIGHT-ASPD fusion protein is shown below:

SEQ ID 41 Sp-LIGHT-ASPD Total amino acid number: 356, MW = 37931 ORIGIN   1 METDTLLLWV LLLWVPGSTG EVNPAAHLTG ANSSLTGSGG PLLWETQLGL AFLRGLSYHD  61 GALVVTKAGY YYIYSKVQLG GVGCPLGLAS TITHGLYKRT PRYPEELELL VSQQSPCGRA 121 TSSSRVWWDS SFLGGVVHLE AGEEVVVRVL DERLVRLRDG TRSYFGAFMV GSSGSSGSSG 181 SGLPDVASLR QQVEALQGQV QHLQAAFSQY KKVELFPNGQ SVGEKIFKTA GFVKPFTEAQ 241 LLCTQAGGQL ASPRSAAENA ALQQLVVAKN EAAFLSMTDS KTEGKFTYPT GESLVYSNWA 301 PGEPNDDGGS EDCVEIFTNG KWNDRACGEK RLVVCEFGGS PSSSSSSAWS HPQFEK   1-20:  Secretion signal peptide (Sp; underlined)  21-170:  LIGHT-receptor binding domain 171-181:  Flexible linker element (A-linker; italic) 182-219:  Coiled coil ″neck″ region of human SP-D 220-337:  C-type lectin domain of human SP-D 338-348:  Linker element (GGSPSSSSSSA) 349-356:  Strep-tag II (WSHPQFEK)

2.3 Characterization of TRAIL Fusion Proteins

HEK293 cells were transiently transfected with 24 different expression vectors encoding for TRAIL fusion proteins (Table 6).

TABLE 6 Overview fusion proteins produced by transient transfection of expression vecors. The ligand TRAIL was transfected as fusion proteins comprising one of six stabilzing trimerization motifs and the linker element (A, B, C and D linker). No Ligand Linker Trimerization motif 1 TRAIL A/B/C/D 69 2 TRAIL A/B/C/D T4 3 TRAIL A/B/C/D SPD 4 TRAIL A/B/C/D CCSPD 5 TRAIL A/B/C/D Col11 6 TRAIL A/B/C/D CC11

Supernatants were used for SDS-PAGE and TRAIL-constructs were detected by Western Blot analysis employing an antibody specific for Strep-tag II.

Specific bands detected are indicated by an arrow. The expression strength depended on the type of the trimerization motif employed for construction, (SPD>69/T4/Collectin11/CCSPD/CC11) as well as on the length of the linker element (A>B>C>D). The results are shown in FIG. 7.

Jurkat cells were incubated for three hours in the presence (filled bars, anti-Strep-tag II) or absence (clear bars) of a cross-linking antibody (2.5 micrograms/ml anti-Strep-tag II) with supernatants from transiently transfected HEK cells. Supernatants contained TRAIL-fusion proteins with different trimerization motifs (T4, 69, SPD, CCSPD, Col11, CC11) fused through varying linker elements (A, B, C and D linker). As negative control, cell supernatant from untransfected cells was used. Jurkat cells were lysed and analyzed for caspase activity with a fluorogenic assay.

As a result, the caspase activity decreased with the type of linker element employed (A>B>C>D) and on the Fold-On employed. Collectin-11 or coiled coil of Collectin-11 (CCCol11) containing TRAIL constructs are expressed (shown by Western Blot analyses), however were not functional, whereas SPD-derived fold-on motifs yielded functional TRAIL-ligands. The results are shown in FIG. 8.

Affinity purified TRAIL-ASPD was subjected to SEC by loading 0.5 ml (0.4 mg protein) to a Superdex200 column at 0.5 ml/min with PBS as running buffer. Protein elution was monitored by absorption at 280 nm and 0.5 ml fractions were collected. The retention volume of 12.28 ml corresponds to 135-140 kDa as determined from size exclusion standard. This indicated that TRAIL-ASPD is a homotrimer, as the calculated molecular weight of the monomeric polypeptide is 40 kDa. Importantly, for all fusion proteins analyzed by SEC consisting of the wild-type TRAIL-RBD sequence, an additional peak at around 8 ml corresponding to aggregated and non-active TRAIL-fusion protein was observed. From the collected fractions A1-A14 only the trimeric peak (A8-A10) was used for further analyses. The results are shown in FIG. 9.

The human cancer cell lines HeLa, HT1080, Colo205 or WM35 were incubated for 18 hours with indicated concentrations of purified, trimeric TRAIL-ASPD in the presence or absence of cross-linking antibody (2.5 microgram/ml of anti-Strep-tag II). Cell death was quantified by crystal violet staining (HeLa, WM35 and HT1080) or by MTS assay (Colo205). The rise in the viability of Colo205 cells at high ligand concentration is likely due to limitation of cross-linking antibody. The results are shown in FIG. 10.

Varying (A) or a constant (B) concentration of affinity and SEC purified, trimeric TRAIL-ASPD was used for immobilization on Streptactin-coated 96-well plates. Plates were then incubated for 5 h with 100,000 Jurkat cells per well at 37° C., 5% CO2 and the caspase activity was determined with a fluorogenic assay. To analyze specificity, plate (B) was incubated for 30 minutes with indicated varying concentrations of an antagonistic anti-TRAIL antibody (clone RIK-2, Pharmingen) prior addition of cells. The results are shown in FIG. 11.

HT1080 cells were incubated on the same 96-well plate with purified and trimeric TRAIL-ASPD or TRAIL-DSPD at indicated concentrations. Cell death was quantified the following day by crystal violet staining. The use of the D-linker reduced the bioactivity approximately 4.5-fold, as indicated by the EC50 values of 27 ng/ml and 6 ng/ml for TRAIL-DSPD and TRAIL-ASPD, respectively. The results are shown in FIG. 12.

The nucleic acid and amino sequences of TRAIL fusion polypeptides are shown below.

SEQ ID 42: Expression cassette of Sp-TRAIL-ASPD Endonuclease restriction sites are underlined (HindIII, AAGCTT; BamHI, GGATCC; NotI, GCGGCCGC). The translational start codon is in boldface. ORIGIN    1 AAGCTTGCCG CCACCATGGA GACCGATACA CTGCTCTTGT GGGTGCTCTT GCTGTGGGTT   61 CCTGCAGGTA ATGGTCAAAG AGTCGCAGCT CACATCACTG GGACTAGAGG CAGGAGTAAC  121 ACCCTGAGTT CTCCCAATTC CAAGAACGAG AAAGCCCTGG GTAGGAAGAT CAACTCCTGG  181 GAAAGCTCCA GAAGCGGCCA TAGCTTTCTT AGCAACCTCC ACTTGAGGAA TGGCGAACTT  241 GTGATCCATG AGAAGGGCTT CTACTACATC TACAGCCAGA CGTACTTCAG GTTCCAGGAG  301 GAAATCAAGG AGAACACCAA GAACGACAAG CAGATGGTGC AATACATCTA CAAGTACACG  361 TCATACCCTG ATCCTATACT GCTGATGAAG TCCGCCAGAA ACAGTTGCTG GAGCAAAGAC  421 GCTGAATACG GCCTGTATTC CATCTATCAG GGCGGTATCT TTGAACTCAA GGAGAACGAC  481 AGGATCTTCG TGTCTGTGAC AAACGAGCAT CTGATCGACA TGGACCATGA AGCGTCTTTC  541 TTCGGTGCCT TCTTGGTGGG ATCCTCTGGT TCGAGTGGTT CGAGTGGTTC TGGATTGCCA  601 GACGTTGCTT CTTTGAGACA ACAGGTTGAG GCTTTGCAGG GTCAAGTCCA GCACTTGCAG  661 GCTGCTTTCT CTCAATACAA GAAGGTTGAG TTGTTCCCAA ACGGTCAATC TGTTGGCGAA  721 AAGATTTTCA AGACTGCTGG TTTCGTCAAA CCATTCACGG AGGCACAATT ATTGTGTACT  781 CAGGCTGGTG GACAGTTGGC CTCTCCACGT TCTGCCGCTG AGAACGCCGC CTTGCAACAG  841 TTGGTCGTAG CTAAGAACGA GGCTGCTTTC TTGAGCATGA CTGATTCCAA GACAGAGGGC  901 AAGTTCACCT ACCCAACAGG AGAATCCTTG GTCTATTCTA ATTGGGCACC TGGAGAGCCC  961 AACGATGATG GCGGCTCAGA GGACTGTGTG GAAATCTTCA CCAATGGCAA GTGGAATGAC 1021 AGAGCTTGTG GAGAGAAGCG TTTGGTGGTC TGTGAGTTCG GAGGCAGTCC TTCATCTTCA 1081 TCTAGCTCTG CCTGGTCGCA TCCACAATTC GAGAAATAAT AGCGGCCGC SEQ ID 43 Sp-TRAIL-ASPD Total amino acid number: 367, MW = 40404 ORIGIN    1 METDTLLLWV LLLWVPAGNG QRVAAHITGT RGRSNTLSSP NSKNEKALGR KINSWESSRS   61 GHSFLSNLHL RNGELVIHEK GFYYIYSQTY FRFQEEIKEN TKNDKQMVQY IYKYTSYPDP  121 ILLMKSARNS CWSKDAEYGL YSIYQGGIFE LKENDRIFVS VTNEHLIDMD HEASFFGAFL  181 VGSSGSSGSS GSGLPDVASL RQQVEALQGQ VQHLQAAFSQ YKKVELFPNG QSVGEKIFKT  241 AGFVKPFTEA QLLCTQAGGQ LASPRSAAEN AALQQLVVAK NEAAFLSMTD SKTEGKFTYP  301 TGESLVYSNW APGEPNDDGG SEDCVEIFTN GKWNDRACGE KRLVVCEFGG SPSSSSSSAW  361 SHPQFEK     1-20: Secretion signal peptide (Sp; underlined)  21-181: TRAIL-receptor binding domain 182-192: Flexible linker element (A-linker; italic) 193-230: Coiled coil ″neck″ region of human SP-D 231-348:  C-type lectin domain of human SP-D 349-359: Linker element (GGSPSSSSSSA) 360-367: Strep-tag II (WSHPQFEK) SEQ ID 44 Sp-TRAIL-ACCSPD Total amino acid number: 246, MW = 27534 ORIGIN    1 METDTLLLWV LLLWVPAGNG QRVAAHITGT RGRSNTLSSP NSKNEKALGR KINSWESSRS   61 GHSFLSNLHL RNGELVIHEK GFYYIYSQTY FRFQEEIKEN TKNDKQMVQY IYKYTSYPDP  121 ILLMKSARNS CWSKDAEYGL YSIYQGGIFE LKENDRIFVS VTNEHLIDMD HEASFFGAFL  181 VGSSGSSGSS GSGLPDVASL RQQVEALQGQ VQHLQAAFSQ YKKVELFPNG PSSSSSSAWS  241 HPQFEK   1-20: Secretion signal peptide (Sp; underlined)  21-181: TRAIL-receptor binding domain 182-192: Flexible linker element (A-linker; italic) 193-230: Coiled coil ″neck″ region of human SP-D 231-238: Linker element (PSSSSSSA) 239-246: Strep-tag II (WSHPQFEK) SEQ ID 45 Sp-TRAIL-ACol11 Total amino acid number: 365, MW = 40806 ORIGIN    1 METDTLLLWV LLLWVPAGNG QRVAAHITGT RGRSNTLSSP NSKNEKALGR KINSWESSRS   61 GHSFLSNLHL RNGELVIHEK GFYYIYSQTY FRFQEEIKEN TKNDKQMVQY IYKYTSYPDP  121 ILLMKSARNS CWSKDAEYGL YSIYQGGIFE LKENDRIFVS VTNEHLIDMD HEASFFGAFL  181 VGSSGSSGSS GSQLRKAIGE MDNQVSQLTS ELKFIKNAVA GVRETESKIY LLVKEEKRYA  241 DAQLSCQGRG GTLSMPKDEA ANGLMAAYLA QAGLARVFIG INDLEKEGAF VYSDHSPMRT  301 FNKWRSGEPN NAYDEEDCVE MVASGGWNDV ACHTTMYFMC EFDKENMGSP SSSSSSAWSH  361 PQFEK   1-20: Secretion signal peptide (Sp; underlined)  21-181: TRAIL-receptor binding domain 182-192: Flexible linker element (A-linker; italic) 193-224: Coiled coil ″neck″ region of human Collectin-11 225-347: C-type lectin domain of human Collectin-11 348-357: Linker element (GSPSSSSSSA) 358-365: Strep-tag II (WSHPQFEK) SEQ ID 46 Sp-TRAIL-ACC11 Total amino acid number: 246, MW = 27431 ORIGIN    1 METDTLLLWV LLLWVPAGNG QRVAAHITGT RGRSNTLSSP NSKNEKALGR KINSWESSRS   61 GHSFLSNLHL RNGELVIHEK GFYYIYSQTY FRFQEEIKEN TKNDKQMVQY IYKYTSYPDP  121 ILLMKSARNS CWSKDAEYGL YSIYQGGIFE LKENDRIFVS VTNEHLIDMD HEASFFGAFL  181 VGSSGSSGSS GSGSQLRKAI GEMDNQVSQL TSELKFIKNA VAGVRETESG PSSSSSSAWS  241 HPQFEK   1-20: Secretion signal peptide (underlined)  21-181: TRAIL-receptor binding domain 182-193: Flexible linker element (A-linker; GSS GSS GSS GSG italic) 194-229: Coiled coil ″neck″ region of human Collectin-11 230-238: Linker element (GPSSSSSSA) 239-246: Strep-tag II (WSHPQFEK)

2.4 Characterization of Receptor-Selective TRAIL (‘Mutein’) Fusion Proteins

HEK293 cells were transiently transfected with expression plasmids encoding for different TRAIL receptor-selective SPD constructs:

No. Transfected Expression Vector 1 TRAILR1mut-A-SPD 2 TRAILR1mut-A-CCSPD 3 TRAILR1mut-D-SPD 4 TRAILR1mut-D-CCSPD 5 TRAILR2mut-A-SPD 6 TRAILR2mut-A-CCSPD 7 TRAILR2mut-D-SPD 8 TRAILR2mut-D-CCSPD 9 TRAIL-A-SPD 10 TRAIL-A-CCSPD 11 TRAIL-D-SPD 12 TRAIL-D-CCSPD

Supernatants were collected three days post-transfection and an aliquot was used for SDS-PAGE and Western Blotting employing an antibody specifc for Strep-tag II. Specific bands were detected at around 38 kDa (SPD-fusion proteins) and 28 kDa (coiled-coil-SPD fusion proteins). The amount of expressed protein depended on the ligand itself (TRAILR1 mutein>TRAILR2mutein>TRAIL), secondly the linker length used (A>D) and third the trimerization motif used (SPD>CCSPD). Apparent molecular weights were as expected from the calculated sizes (40 kDa and 27 kDa for SPD and CCSPD fusion proteins, respectively). The results are shown in FIG. 13.

The selectivity of TRAIL-Receptor 1 or TRAIL-Receptor 2 towards fusion proteins of SPD/ccSPD and TRAIL, TRAILR1 mut and TRAILR2mut was shown by Streptactin-ELISA. Therefore, TRAIL-SPD-fusion proteins in supernatants from transiently transfected HEK293 cells were immobilized on Streptactin coated microplates. Cell supernatant from untransfected cells served as negative control. The results are shown in FIG. 14. Specifically bound proteins were detected with constant (A, B) or varying (C, D) concentrations of either TRAIL-Receptor 1-Fc or TRAIL-Receptor 2-Fc. As shown in (A), the ligand TRAILR1 mut fused to SPD variants is deteced by TRAIL-Receptor 1, whereas the ligand TRAILR2mut is not. As shown in (B), the ligand TRAILR2mut is preferentially detected by TRAIL-Receptor 2, whereas TRAILR1 mut- and TRAIL wild-type constructs are equally well detected. As shown in C, TRAIL-Receptor 1-Fc bound to TRAIL-R1mut-ASPD and TRAIL-ASPD equally well over the whole receptor titration range, whereas TRAIL-R2mut-ASPD is not detected. As shown in D, TRAIL-Receptor 2-Fc bound to TRAIL-R2mut-ASPD and TRAIL-ASPD equally well over the receptor titration range analyzed, whereas the signal for TRAIL-R1mut-ASPD decreased rapidely with decreasing concentrations of receptor.

One microgram/ml of affinity purified, trimeric TRAIL-ASPD, TRAILR1 mut-ASPD or TRAILR2mut-ASPD in 100 microliter of PBS were used for immobilization via the Strep-tag II on Streptactin-coated microplates. Bound ligands were detected in a ELISA set-up using Fc-fusion proteins of TRAIL-Receptor 1 (A) or TRAIL-Receptor 2 (B). As shown in (A), TRAIL-Receptor 1 bound preferentially to the receptor-selective TRAILR1 mut-ASPD as compared to TRAILR2mut-ASPD. As shown in (B), TRAIL-Receptor 2 preferentially bound to TRAILR2mut-ASPD as compared to TRAILR1 mut-ASPD. In conclusion, the constructed TRAIL variants fused to SPD are receptor selective. The results are shown in FIG. 15.

Affinity purified TRAILR1 mut-ASPD was subjected to SEC by loading 0.5 ml (0.95 mg protein) on a Superdex200 column. The results are shown in FIG. 16. Proteins were resolved at 0.5 ml/minute with PBS as running buffer and 0.5 ml fractions were collected (fractions A1 to A14 are indicated). The retention volume of 12.46 ml corresponded to 140-145 kDa as determined by size exclusion standard. A minor peak at 10.83 ml indicated some aggregated species, importantly however, no peak was detected at the running front (8 ml) indicating that this molecule is much more soluble as compared to proteins containing parts of the wild-type TRAIL amino acid sequence.

An aliquot from size exclusion chromatography of affinity purified TRAILR1 mut-ASPD was used for non-reducing (A) or reducing (B) SDS-PAGE followed by silver staining as shown in FIG. 17. Under non-reducing conditions, two bands were detected at 35 and 70 kDa, whereas a single band of 40 kDa (indicated by an arrow) was detected under reducing conditions. This indicated the formation of disulphide bridged molecules. The trimeric species was present in fractions A8 to A11 and was used for later analyses.

Jurkat cells were incubated in the absence (open bars) or presence (filled bars) of 2.5 microgram/ml of cross-linking antibody with aliquots at a final 80-fold dilution from fractions A1 to A14 from SEC of affinity purified TRAILR1mut-ASPD. The results are shown in FIG. 18. As negative control, Jurkat cells were incubated with medium only. Jurkat cells were lysed after 3 h incubation and the caspase activity was determined with a fluorogenic assay. As Jurkat cells have been shown to mainly express TRAIL-Receptor 2, no fraction induced significant caspase activity, even when TRAILR1 mit-ASPD was cross-linked by Strep-tag II specific antibody. This indicated that TRAILR1 mut-ASPD does not bind to TRAIL-Receptor 2.

Affinity purified TRAILR2mut-ASPD was subjected to size exclusion chromatography by loading 0.5 ml (0.5 mg protein) to a Superdex 200 column as shown in FIG. 19. Proteins were resolved at 0.5 ml/minute with PBS as running buffer and 0.5 ml fractions were collected (fractions A1 to A14 are indicated). The retention volume of 12.60 ml corresponds to 130-135 kDa as determined from size exclusion standard. This indicated that TRAILR2mut-ASPD is a homotrimer as calculated from the expected monomeric weight of 40 kDa. Importantly, more than 95% was present in the trimeric peak fraction and no aggregates were detected. The trimeric peak was used for later analyses.

An aliquot from size exclusion chromatography of affinity purified TRAILR2mut-ASPD was used for non-reducing (A) or reducing (B) SDS-PAGE followed by silver staining as shown in FIG. 20. Under non-reducing conditions, two bands were detected at 35 and 70 kDa, whereas a single band of approximately 40 kDa (indicated by an arrow) was detected under reducing conditions. This indicated the formation of disulphide bridged molecules. The trimeric species was present in fractions A9 to A11 and was used for later analyses.

The results from a Jurkat cell kill assay with TRAILR2-mut-ASPD are shown in FIG. 21. Jurkat cells were incubated in the absence (clear bars) or presence (filled bars) of cross-linking antibodies (2.5 microgram/ml anti-Strep-tag II) with aliquots from fractions A1 to A14 from SEC of affinity purified TRAILR2mut-ASPD. Samples were used at at final 640-fold dilution. Cells were lysed after 3 h of incubation and the caspase activity was determined with a fluorogenic assay. As Jurkat cells have been shown to mainly express TRAIL-Receptor 2 that requires multimerized ligand forms for efficient signalling, TRAILR2mut-ASPD induced caspase activity when cross-linked. This indicated that TRAILR2mut-ASPD is a functional molecule.

The cytotoxic activity of TRAIL-ASPD, TRAILR1 mut-ASPD and TRAILR2mut-ASPD on different human cancer cells is shown in FIG. 22. The indicated cell lines HT1080 (A and B), Hela (C and D) or Colo205 (E and F) were treated with varying concentrations of purified and trimeric TRAIL-ASPD, TRAILR1mut-ASPD or TRAILR2mut-ASPD in the absence (A, C and E) or presence (B, D and F) of cross-linking antibody (anti-Strep-tag II). Cells were incubated for 18 hours with indicated concentrations of ligands and cell death was quantified by crystal violet staining (HT1080 and HeLa) or MTS assay (Colo205). As a result, the ligand TRAIL-ASPD induced cell death on the three cell lines tested and TRAILR2mut-ASPD showed superior cell killing activity. In contrast, TRAIL-Receptor 1 selective TRAILR1 mut-ASPD was not active on any cell line tested.

Affinity purified TRAILR2mut-ASPD was concentrated 20-fold in PBS by centrifugation through a 10 kDa membrane to give a solution of 2.5 mg/ml. From the concentrate, 0.1 ml were subjected to size exclusion chromatography. As a result, only the trimeric peak and no aggregates were detected, indicating that this composition has improved production capabilities (FIG. 23). Similar results were achieved for TRAILR1 mut-ASPD, where a concentrated solution of even 5.4 mg/ml showed no signs of aggregation (not shown). In contrast, all fusion proteins tested containing the receptor binding domain composed of the wild type TRAIL sequence showed aggregation with 40% aggregates at concentrations as low as 0.4 mg/ml.

The amino acid sequences of receptor-selective TRAIL mutein fusion polypeptides are shown in the following.

SEQ ID 47 Sp-TRAILR1mut-ASPD Total amino acid number: 367, MW = 40335 ORIGIN   1 METDTLLLWV LLLWVPAGNG QRVAAHITGT RGRSNTLSSP NSKNEKALGR KINSWESSRS  61 GHSFLSNLHL RNGELVIHEK GFYYIYSQTA FRFSEEIKEV TRNDKQMVQY IYKWTDYPDP 121 ILLMKSARNS CWSKDAEYGL YSIYQGGIFE LKENDRIFVS VTNEHLIDMD HEASFFGAFL 181 VGSSGSSGSS GSGLPDVASL RQQVEALQGQ VQHLQAAFSQ YKKVELFPNG QSVGEKIFKT 241 AGFVKPFTEA QLLCTQAGGQ LASPRSAAEN AALQQLVVAK NEAAFLSMTD SKTEGKFTYP 301 TGESLVYSNW APGEPNDDGG SEDCVEIFTN GKWNDRACGE KRLVVCEFGG SPSSSSSSAW 361 SHPQFEK   1-20: Secretion signal peptide (Sp; underlined)  21-181: TRAILR1mut-receptor binding domain 182-192: Flexible linker element (A-linker; italic) 193-230: Coiled coil ″neck″ region of human SP-D 231-348: C-type lectin domain of human SP-D 349-359: Linker element (GGSPSSSSSSA) 360-367: Strep-tag II (WSHPQFEK) SEQ ID 48 Sp-TRAILR2mut-ASPD Total amino acid number: 367, MW = 40401 ORIGIN   1 METDTLLLWV LLLWVPAGNG QRVAAHITGT RGRSNTLSSP NSKNEKALGR KINSWESSRS  61 GHSFLSNLHL RNGELVIHEK GFYYIYSQTQ FKFREEIKEN TKNDKQMVQY IYKYTSYPDP 121 ILLMKSARNS CWSKDAEYGL YSIYQGGIFE LKENDRIFVS VTNERLLQMD HEASFFGAFL 181 VGSSGSSGSS GSGLPDVASL RQQVEALQGQ VQHLQAAFSQ YKKVELFPNG QSVGEKIFKT 241 AGFVKPFTEA QLLCTQAGGQ LASPRSAAEN AALQQLVVAK NEAAFLSMTD SKTEGKFTYP 301 TGESLVYSNW APGEPNDDGG SEDCVEIFTN GKWNDRACGE KRLVVCEFGG SPSSSSSSAW 361 SHPQFEK   1-20: Secretion signal peptide (Sp; underlined)  21-181: TRAILR2mut-receptor binding domain 182-192: Flexible linker element (A-linker; italic) 193-230: Coiled coil ″neck″ region of human SP-D 231-348: C-type lectin domain of human SP-D 349-359: Linker element (GGSPSSSSSSA) 360-367: Strep-tag II (WSHPQFEK)

2.5 Characterization of SPD Carbohydrate-Variants

Affinity purified TRAIL-ASPD_F335A was subjected to Size Exclusion Chromatography by loading 0.5 ml PBS solution (0.4 mg protein) to a Superdex 200 column as shown in FIG. 24. Proteins were resolved at 0.5 ml/minute with PBS as running buffer and 0.5 ml fractions were collected (A1 to A13 are indicated). The retention volume of 12.27 ml corresponds to 135-145 kDa as determined from size exclusion standard. This indicated that TRAIL-ASPD_F335A is a homotrimer as calculated from the expected monomeric weight of 40 kDa. Two additional peaks at 8.32 and 10.68 ml indicated the formation of TRAIL-ASPD_F335A aggregates. Only the trimeric peak was used for later analyses.

From Size exclusion chromatography an aliquot from collected fractions A1 to A13 was resolved by reducing SDS-PAGE and the gel was silver stained (FIG. 25). The band detected at approximately 40 kDa corresponded to the calculated molecular weight of 40 kDa for TRAIL-ASPD_F335A. Positive fractions corresponding the trimeric molecule (A8, A9, A10) of the SEC run were pooled and used for further analyses.

The amino acid sequences of TRAIL-SPD carbohydrate variant fusion proteins is shown in the following.

SEQ ID 49: Sp-TRAIL-ASPD_F335A Total amino acid number: 367, MW = 40328 ORIGIN   1 METDTLLLWV LLLWVPAGNG QRVAAHITGT RGRSNTLSSP NSKNEKALGR KINSWESSRS  61 GHSFLSNLHL RNGELVIHEK GFYYIYSQTY FRFQEEIKEN TKNDKQMVQY IYKYTSYPDP 121 ILLMKSARNS CWSKDAEYGL YSIYQGGIFE LKENDRIFVS VTNEHLIDMD HEASFFGAFL 181 VGSSGSSGSS GSGLPDVASL RQQVEALQGQ VQHLQAAFSQ YKKVELFPNG QSVGEKIFKT 241 AGFVKPFTEA QLLCTQAGGQ LASPRSAAEN AALQQLVVAK NEAAFLSMTD SKTEGKFTYP 301 TGESLVYSNW APGEPNDDGG SEDCVEIATN GKWNDRACGE KRLVVCEFGG SPSSSSSSAW 361 SHPQFEK   1-20: Secretion signal peptide (Sp; underlined)  21-181: TRAIL-receptor binding domain 182-192: Flexible linker element (A-linker; italic) 193-230: Coiled coil ″neck″ region of human SP-D 231-348: C-type lectin domain of human SP-D (Phe mutation in bold-face) 349-359: Linker element (GGSPSSSSSSA) 360-367: Strep-tag II (WSHPQFEK) SEQ ID 50: Sp-TRAIL-ASPD_F335D Total amino acid number: 367, MW = 40372 ORIGIN   1 METDTLLLWV LLLWVPAGNG QRVAAHITGT RGRSNTLSSP NSKNEKALGR KINSWESSRS  61 GHSFLSNLHL RNGELVIHEK GFYYIYSQTY FRFQEEIKEN TKNDKQMVQY IYKYTSYPDP 121 ILLMKSARNS CWSKDAEYGL YSIYQGGIFE LKENDRIFVS VTNEHLIDMD HEASFFGAFL 181 VGSSGSSGSS GSGLPDVASL RQQVEALQGQ VQHLQAAFSQ YKKVELFPNG QSVGEKIFKT 241 AGFVKPFTEA QLLCTQAGGQ LASPRSAAEN AALQQLVVAK NEAAFLSMTD SKTEGKFTYP 301 TGESLVYSNW APGEPNDDGG SEDCVEIDTN GKWNDRACGE KRLVVCEFGG SPSSSSSSAW 361 SHPQFEK   1-20: Secretion signal peptide (Sp; underlined)  21-181: TRAIL-receptor binding domain 182-192: Flexible linker element (A-linker; italic) 193-230: Coiled coil ″neck″ region of human SP-D 231-348: C-type lectin domain of human SP-D (Asp mutation in bold-face) 349-359: Linker element (GGSPSSSSSSA) 360-367: Strep-tag II (WSHPQFEK)

The cytotoxic effect of TRAIL-ASPD_F335A on human cancer cells is shown in FIG. 26.

Indicated human cancer cell lines were incubated over night with varying concentrations of affinity and SEC purified, trimeric TRAIL-ASPD_F335A in the presence or absence of cross-linking antibody (2.5 microgram/ml of anti Strep-tag II). Cell viability was quantified by crystal violet staining (HT1080, HeLa and WM35) or MTS (Colo205). The rise of Colo205 cell viability at high ligand concentrations is likely due to limitation of cross-linking antibody.

Affinity purified TRAIL-ASPD_F335D was subjected to Size Exclusion Chromatography by loading 0.5 ml (0.2 mg protein) to a Superdex 200 column as shown in FIG. 27. Proteins were resolved at 0.5 ml/minute with PBS as running buffer and 0.5 ml fractions were collected (A1 to A13 are indicated). The retention volume of 12.29 ml corresponds to 135-145 kDa as determined from size exclusion standard. This indicated that TRAIL-ASPD_F335D is a homotrimer as calculated from the expected monomeric weight of 40 kDa. The peak at 8.35 corresponded to inactive TRAIL-ASPD_F335D aggregates typically found for all fusion proteins containing parts of the wild type TRAIL amino acid sequence.

From Size exclusion chromatography aliquots of affinity purified TRAIL-ASPD_F335D from the collected fractions A1 to A13 were resolved by reducing SDS-PAGE and the gel was silver stained (FIG. 28). The bands detected at approximately 40 kDa (indicated by an arrow) corresponded to the calculated molecular weight of 40 kDa for TRAIL-ASPD_F335D. Fractions containing trimeric protein (fractions A8 to A10) were pooled and used for further analyses.

The human cancer cell lines HT1080 (A), HeLa (B), WM35 (C) or Colo205 (D) were incubated over night with varying concentrations of affinity purified, trimeric TRAIL-ASPD_F335D in the presence or absence of cross-linking antibodies (anti-Strep-tag II). Cell viability was quantified by crystal violet staining (HT1080, HeLa and WM35) or MTS (Colo205). The data show that TRAIL-ASPD_F335D is capable of inducing cell death in exemplified cancer cell lines (FIG. 29). The rise of Colo205 cell viability at high concentrations of ligand is likely due to limitation of cross-linking antibody.

2.6 Analysis of Carbohydrate Binding Characteristics of the SPD Trimerization Motif Variants

It has been shown that wild-type, full length and oligomeric SP-D protein from several species, as well as the trimeric neck+CRD of human SP-D bind to several different carbohydrates. In addition, the neck+CRD of human SP-D also has been shown to excert immunomodulatory effects by serving as a chemotactic factor for immuno cells such as neutrophils (Cai et al., 1999, Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 276:131-136). Other cells may also be recruited by SP-D. The chemotactic effect of neck+CRD of human SP-D has been shown to depend on the glycobinding function, as the addition of maltose inhibited the chemotactic function. Thus, a ligand of the TNFSF with a SP-D-mediated chemotactic function may be of superior activity as compared to ligands or constructs thereof with natural amino acid sequences. For instance, in a scenario where cellular effects are desirable such as in cancer treatment such a described ligand may be desirable.

In addition, a ligand where SP-D has no carbohydrate function may be desirable in other settings. For human SP-D a mutant has been described in which amino acid phenylalanine 335 (corresponding to amino acid 355 of SEQ ID NO:21) has been mutated to alanine (SPD_F335A, Crouch et al., JBC 281: 18008-18014). This mutant showed very weak carbohydrate binding. However, introducing a charged amino acid (e.g. an acidic amino acid) may be even better as compared to F335A if no carbohydrate binding is desired. Therefore the mutant SPD_F335D may be superior towards F335A mutant.

To analyze the binding of TRAIL-fusion proteins to carbohydrates, mannan from yeast was immobilized on microplates and the binding of TRAIL-SPD, TRAIL-SPD_F335A or TRAIL-SPD_F335D was detected by ELISA. The results are shown in FIG. 30. As expected, the ELISA signal increased with increasing concentrations of TRAIL-ASPD. In contrast, the carbohydrate-mutant form TRAIL-ASPD_F335A showed a very low ELISA signal. In addition, the new constructed variant TRAIL-ASPD_F335D displayed the lowest ELISA signal (see inset and arrow). This indicated that the mutant F335D has a lower mannan-binding affinity as compared to the previously described SP-D mutant form F335A.

2.7 Pharmacokinetics of TRAIL-SPD Fusion Proteins

To determine the half-lifes of TRAIL-SPD fusion protein, ten micrograms of TRAIL-ASPD (A) or TRAIL-ASPD_F335D (B) were injected intraveneously into male CD1 mice and serum samples were collected after several time points (predose, 5 min., 30 min., 2 h, 6 h and 24 h). TRAIL proteins in sera of mice were quantified by an ELISA and the data was used to calculate halflifes. The results are shown in FIG. 31. For the two proteins analyzed, a halflife of 7 to 14 hours for TRAIL-ASPD (A) and TRAIL-ASPD_F335D (B) were calculated. No animal died or showed signs of intolerance during the period observed. The data indicate an at least 80-fold improvement of the serum halftime as compared to wild type TRAIL that was reported to have a half time in the range of three to five minutes in rodents (Kelley et. al 2001).

2.8 Cytotoxicity of TRAIL-ASPD Fusion Proteins

To analyze potential hepatotoxic effects of TRAIL-ASPD, TRAIL-ASPD_F335A or TRAIL-ASPD_F335D, primary human hepatocytes (PHH) were incubated with varying concentrations of indicated TRAIL-SPD-fusion proteins, with or without cross-linking antibodies (anti-Strep-tag II). As a control, a stabilized variant of CD95L, CD95L-T4 (described in WO2008/025516) was used. The results are shown in FIG. 32.

In addition, the effect of a simultaneous incubation of PHH with 5 mM of chemotherapeutic drugs was analyzed for TRAIL-ASPD_F335D. After 5 h (A, B and E) or 24 h (C, D and F) of incubation, cells were lysed and caspase activity was assessed with a fluorogenic assay.

As a result, all analyzed TRAIL-SPD fusion proteins induced no hepatotoxic effects, even if ligands were secondarily cross-linked by antibodies. In contrast, CD95L-T4 is hepatotoxic as indicated by an increase of active caspase (A to D). Five hours of co-incubation of primary human hepatocytes with trimeric TRAIL-ASPD_F335D together with chemotherapeutic drugs induced no caspase activity (E). However, after 24 h of co-incubation with doxorubicin, soluble TRAIL-ASPD_F335D induced a strong caspase activity signal (F).

This indicates that TRAIL fusion proteins of the present invention may not show undesired hepatotoxicity in medical use. Thus, TRAIL fusion proteins are preferably administered in combination with drugs, which are apoptosis sensitizers and/or apoptosis inducers, e.g. a chemotherapeutic drug such as oxaliplatin, cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, etoposide, gemcitabine, irinotecan and others, or Bcl2 binding molecules, e.g. small molecules or peptidic compounds, which bind to polypeptides of the Bcl2 family, particularly Bcl2 or Bclxl.

2.9 Characterization of APRIL Fusion Proteins

HEK293 cells were transiently transfected with expression vectors encoding for APRIL-A69 (WO2008025516), APRIL-ASPD, APRIL-ACCSPD or APRIL-ACol11. After three days supernatants were analyzed for secreted proteins by Western Blotting. The results are shown in FIG. 33. For the detection of APRIL-fusion proteins an antibody specifc for Strep-tag II was used. Arrows indicate specific bands that were detected around 40 kDa (APRIL-ASPD and APRIL-ACol11, respectively), as well as at around 25 kDa (APRIL-A69 and APRIL-ACCSPD, respectively). Thus APRIL expression cassettes are functional and the secretion of protein indicated that the proteins are properly folded. As for other TNFSF proteins analyzed, the highest secreted protein levels were found for APRIL fused to the trimerization motif composed of coiled coil “neck”+CRD of human SP-D (APRIL-ASPD, lane No. 2). APRIL-ASPD was used to analyze the binding to the receptor TACI.

To show that the constructed APRIL-ASPD fusion protein is functional, the binding to a known receptor of APRIL, namely TACI, was assessed (FIG. 34). Therefore, APRIL-ASPD in supernatant from transiently transfected HEK293 cells was immobilized on Streptactin coated microplates. Cell supernatant from untransfected HEK293 cells served as negative control. Specifically bound proteins were detected with varying concentrations of TACI-Fc followed by incubation with an anti-human, Fc-specific antibody conjugated with peroxidase. As a result, the ELISA signal increased with increasing concentrations of TACI-Fc, indicating that APRIL-ASPD is a functional molecule.

The amino acid sequence of an APRIL fusion protein is shown below.

SEQ ID 51: Sp-APRIL-ASPD Total amino acid number: 344, MW = 37120 ORIGIN   1 METDTLLLWV LLLWVPAGNG KQHSVLHLVP INATSKDDSD VTEVMWQPAL RRGRGLQAQG  61 YGVRIQDAGV YLLYSQVLFQ DVTFTMGQVV SREGQGRQET LFRCIRSMPS HPDRAYNSCY 121 SAGVFHLHQG DILSVIIPRA RAKLNLSPHG TFLGFVKLGS SGSSGSSGSG LPDVASLRQQ 181 VEALQGQVQH LQAAFSQYKK VELFPNGQSV GEKIFKTAGF VKPFTEAQLL CTQAGGQLAS 241 PRSAAENAAL QQLVVAKNEA AFLSMTDSKT EGKFTYPTGE SLVYSNWAPG EPNDDGGSED 301 CVEIFTNGKW NDRACGEKRL VVCEFGGSPS SSSSSAWSHP QFEK   1-20: Signal secretion peptide (underlined)  21-158: APRIL-RBD 159-169: Flexible linker element (A-linker; GSS GSS GSS GS italic) 170-207: Coiled coil ″neck″ region of human SP-D 208-325: C-type lectin domain of human SP-D 326-336: Linker element (GGSPSSSSSSA) 337-344: Strep-tag II (WSHPQFEK)

Example 3 Generation of a Fusion Protein with a Single Chain Antibody as Effector Polypeptide

The amino acid sequences of examples for single chain (sc) Fv-SPD fusion proteins are shown below (SEQ ID 52, 53)

SEQ ID 52 Sp-sc006-ASPD Total amino acid number: 450   1 METDTLLLWV LLLWVPAGNG EVQLVESGGG LVKPGGSLRL SCAASGFTFN TNAMNWVRQA  61 PGKGLEWVAR IRSKSNNYAT YYADSVKDRF TLSRDDSKNT LYLQMNSLKT EDTAVYYCTR 121 DRGWGAMDYW GQGTTVTVSS GGGGSGGGGS GGGTGDIQMT QSPSSLSASV GDRVTITCSA 181 SQDINNYLNW YQQKPGKAPK LLIYYTSSLH SGVPSRFSGS GSGTDFTLTI SSLQPEDFAT 241 YYCQQFSNLP WTFGGGTKLE IKRTGSSGSS GSSGSGLPDV ASLRQQVEAL QGQVQHLQAA 301 FSQYKKVELF PNGQSVGEKI FKTAGFVKPF TEAQLLCTQA GGQLASPRSA AENAALQQLV 361 VAKNEAAFLS MTDSKTEGKF TYPTGESLVY SNWAPGEPND DGGSEDCVEI FTNGKWNDRA 421 CGEKRLVVCE FGGSPSSSSS SAWSHPQFEK   1-20: Signal secretion peptide (underlined)  21-140: Variable domain heavy chain 141-155: Linker element 156-264: Variable domain light chain 265-275: A-Linker 276-431: SPD-motiv (neck + CRD) 432-441: Linker element 442-450: Strep-tag II (WSHPQFEK) SEQ ID 53 Sp-sc006-ASPD_F335D Total amino acid number: 450   1 METDTLLLWV LLLWVPAGNG EVQLVESGGG LVKPGGSLRL SCAASGFTFN TNAMNWVRQA  61 PGKGLEWVAR IRSKSNNYAT YYADSVKDRF TLSRDDSKNT LYLQMNSLKT EDTAVYYCTR 121 DRGWGAMDYW GQGTTVTVSS GGGGSGGGGS GGGTGDIQMT QSPSSLSASV GDRVTITCSA 181 SQDINNYLNW YQQKPGKAPK LLIYYTSSLH SGVPSRFSGS GSGTDFTLTI SSLQPEDFAT 241 YYCQQFSNLP WTFGGGTKLE IKRTGSSGSS GSSGSGLPDV ASLRQQVEAL QGQVQHLQAA 301 FSQYKKVELF PNGQSVGEKI FKTAGFVKPF TEAQLLCTQA GGQLASPRSA AENAALQQLV 361 VAKNEAAFLS MTDSKTEGKF TYPTGESLVY SNWAPGEPND DGGSEDCVEI DTNGKWNDRA 421 CGEKRLVVCE FGGSPSSSSS SAWSHPQFEK   1-20: Signal secretion peptide (underlined)  21-140: Variable domain heavy chain 141-155: Linker element 156-264: Variable domain light chain 265-275: A-Linker 276-431: SPD-motiv (neck + CRD) 432-441: Linker element 442-450: Strep-tag II (WSHPQFEK)

The protein was expressed and subjected to affinity chromatography as described in section 1.3. An aliquot of the eluate was resolved by SDS-PAGE under reducing or non-reducing conditions. A single band at 40-50 kDa can be detected indicated by an arrow (see FIG. 39) corresponding to sc006-ASPD-St with an expected molecular weight of 45.8 kDa.

The protein was expressed, affinity purified and subjected to size exclusion chromatography as described in section 1.3. Fifty micrograms of affinity purified protein were loaded onto a Superdex200 column and the chromatogram is shown (see FIG. 40). The main peak at 12.63 ml corresponds to a molecular weight of 160±15 kDa resembling the expected species of three scFv molecules organized into trimers via SPD. The molecules could be tested for functionality in an ELISA setup by immobilizing the antigen and detecting sc006-SPD-St.

The fusion protein generated in this experiment comprises a single chain antibody directed against IL4R-alpha. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A fusion protein comprising (i) a collectin family trimerization domain selected from the group consisting of the amino acid residues 217-375, 218-375, 219-375, 220-375, 221-375, 222-375, 223-375, 224-375, and 225-375 of SEQ ID NO: 21, optionally further consisting of an amino acid substitution at residue 355; (ii) a linker element; and (iii) TRAIL (tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand) or a receptor binding domain thereof; wherein said linker element has 25 or less amino acids.
 2. The fusion protein claim 1, wherein (iii) is located N-terminally of the collectin family neck region.
 3. The fusion protein of claim 2, wherein the linker element consists of amino acids glycine and serine.
 4. The fusion protein of claim 2, wherein the linker has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 33, which is (GSS)a(SSG)b(GSG)c, wherein a, b, c is each independently 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 such that the linker has 25 or less amino acid.
 5. The fusion protein of claim 2, wherein the linker element has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 56, which is GSSGSSGSSGSG.
 6. The fusion protein of claim 2, wherein the linker element has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 34, which is GSSGSSGSSGS.
 7. The fusion protein of claim 2, further comprising an N-terminal signal peptide domain.
 8. The fusion protein of claim 2, further comprising a recognition/purification domain selected from the group consisting of a strep-tag domain and a poly-His domain.
 9. The fusion protein of claim 1, wherein the amino acid residue 355 in SEQ ID NO: 21 is optionally substituted to a polar amino acid selected from the group consisting of aspartic acid, glutamic acid, asparagine and glutamine.
 10. The fusion protein of claim 2, wherein (iii) comprises the sequence of human TRAIL, which is SEQ ID NO:10.
 11. The fusion protein of claim 2, wherein (iii) comprises amino acids 95-281, 116-281, 117-281, 118-281, 119-281 or 120-281 of human TRAIL (SEQ ID NO:10).
 12. A trimeric complex consisting of three identical fusion proteins of claim
 1. 